Image
May 30, 2023
The Department of State Services, Nigerian secret police, has confirmed that its operatives took over offices being used by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Lagos State on Tuesday adding that it (the DSS) was the legal owner and was “only occupying its own facility.”
SaharaReporters earlier reported that operatives DSS stormed the Lagos office of the EFCC preventing officials of the anti-graft agency from gaining access to their office in Ikoyi, Lagos.
Impeccable sources in both agencies confirmed that there had been an ongoing rivalry between the DSS and the EFCC over the ownership of the building.
It was gathered that the DSS operatives stormed the office around 7:00 am on Tuesday, and refused to leave despite dialogue between operatives of both agencies.
Reacting to the incident, EFCC in a statement by its spokesperson, Wilson Uwujaren, described the siege as shocking, saying it has wilder implications on Nigeria’s fight against economic and financial crimes.
But the DSS in a statement by its national Public Relations Officer, Peter Afunanya, denied barricading the EFCC office and denying its officials entry, saying that the Service was not in a fight with the EFCC over the Lagos property.
The DSS statement read, “The attention of the Department of State Services (DSS) has been drawn to some media reports that it barricaded the EFCC from entering its Lagos office.
“It is not correct that the DSS barricaded EFCC from entering its office. 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? I will be surprised if it is contesting the ownership.
“Awolowo Road was NSO headquarters. SSS/DSS started from there. It is a common knowledge. It is a historical fact. Check it out.
“There is no rivalry between the Service and the EFCC over and about anything. Please do not create any imaginary one. They are great partners working for the good of the nation. Dismiss any falsehood of a fight.”