DSS, EFCC In Battle Of Wits Over Lagos Office

The worrisome inter-security agencies rivalry that dominated the early life of the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari was on Tuesday ignited in Lagos between the Department of State Services (DSS), and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

This followed Tuesday early morning blockade of the entrance of the Lagos office of the EFCC by operatives of the DSS that prevented officers and men of the EFCC from gaining entrance into their offices.

The development took place less than 24hours after the inauguration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who is yet to appoint key officials of his administration.

But, the DSS in a statement it quickly issued, there is no rivalry between it and the EFCC over and about anything thus, pleaded that people should not create any imaginary crisis.

It also said that it did not barricade the entrance leading to EFCC zonal office in Lagos, adding however that the said building occupied by the EFCC originally belongs to the secret police.

The DSS statement which was issued by its spokesman, Peter Afunanya further said that it was not correct to state that the Service barricaded EFCC from entering its office.

Afunanya said; “No. It is not true. The Service is only occupying its own facility where it is carrying out its official and statutory responsibility.

“By the way, there is no controversy over No 15A Awolowo Road as being insinuated by the Media. Did the EFCC tell you it is contesting the ownership of the building? They are great partners working for the good of the nation. Dismiss any falsehood of a fight,” it said.

The DSS said that it would be surprised if the EFCC is contesting the ownership of the building, adding that Awolowo Road was NSO headquarters, saying; “SSS/DSS started from there. It is a common knowledge. It is a historical fact. Check it out”.

However, in its own statement, the spokesman of the EFCC, Mfr. Wilson Uwujaren, said operatives of the DSS on Wednesday morning, laid siege on its (EFCC), Lagos office, an action he described as ‘shocking’.

The EFCC particularly noted that the siege by the DSS was inconsistent with the synergy expected of agencies working for the same government and nation, especially when there are ongoing discussions on the matter.

Uwujaren said that the EFCC operatives of its Lagos Command arrived at their office on No. 15 Awolowo Road, Ikoyi, on May 30, 2023, only to be denied entry by agents of the Department of State Services, DSS, who had barricaded the entrance with armoured personnel carriers.

He explained that the development was strange to the Commission given that they have cohabited with the DSS in that facility for 20 years without any incident, adding that by denying its operatives access to their offices, the EFCC’s operations at its largest hub with over 500 personnel, hundreds of exhibits, and many suspects in detention have been disrupted.

According to Uwujaren; “Cases scheduled for court hearing today have been aborted, while many suspects who had been invited for questioning are left unattended.

“Even more alarming is that suspects in detention are left without care with grave implications for their rights as inmates. All of these have wilder implications for the nation’s fight against economic and financial crimes,” he said.