The staff of the EFCC was prevented from their office on Tuesday, May 30, 2023
The Lagos State office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) was reportedly stormed by officials of the Department of State Services (DSS), who asserted their ownership of the building at No 15A Awolowo Road in Lagos.
According to anonymous sources, who preferred to remain unidentified, it was reported to Celebrity Telegraph that the DSS officials arrived in Lagos on Monday and stationed themselves on the road leading to the EFCC office. EFCC staff reportedly continued their work peacefully, assuming that the presence of the DSS operatives was related to maintaining peace during the inauguration ceremony on Monday.
However, after the EFCC officials finished their work for the day, it was reported that the DSS personnel entered the premises to prevent them from accessing the office when they returned to work the following day.
According to an anonymous official of the commission, the DSS parked two armored personnel carriers outside the gate and asserted control over the premises, effectively preventing EFCC staff from entering their offices. The official shared this information with our correspondent off-camera.
According to our correspondent, there has been an ongoing rivalry between the two agencies, with the DSS asserting ownership of the building in question. The DSS had reportedly threatened and prevented the EFCC from painting the walls of the building in EFCC’s colors in the recent past.
As of the time of filing this report, EFCC officials were observed outside their offices, while the DSS maintained control over the locked premises, further highlighting the tense situation between the two agencies, the DSS stated that it is occupying its own facility and fulfilling its official and statutory responsibilities within the premises.
Read DSS Full Statement:
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.
Peter Afunanya PhD fsi
PRO-DSS
Full Statement from the EFCC:
DSS’ Siege on Our Lagos Office Shocking – EFCC
The operatives of the Lagos Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, arrived at their office on No. 15 Awolowo Road, Ikoyi, this morning, May 30, 2023, to be denied entry by agents of the Department of State Services, DSS, who had barricaded the entrance with armoured personnel carriers.
This development is strange to the Commission given that we have cohabited with the DSS in that facility for 20 years without incident.
By denying operatives access to their offices, the Commission’s operations at its largest hub with over 500 personnel, hundreds of exhibits, and many suspects in detention have been disrupted.
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.
The siege is inconsistent with the synergy expected of agencies working for the same government and nation, especially when there are ongoing discussions on the matter.
Wilson Uwujaren
Head, Media & Publicity
30/05/2023