The Department of the State Security Services (DSS) stormed Lagos office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) preventing officials of the anti-graft agency from gaining access to their office in Ikoyi.

It was gathered that the DSS operatives blocked the whole building and placed an armoured tank at the front of the building.

“They even placed an armoured tank just to scare us away”, an EFCC source said.

However, in it’s reaction, the EFCC said the action of the DSS is not only shocking but also inconsistent with the synergy expected of government agencies.

DSS officials prevented EFCC staff who reported for work Tuesday morning from gaining access to the building and were said to have placed two armoured personnel vehicles at the building to prevent the EFCC staff from entering the building, which both Federal Government agents have been sharing before this morning incident.

Reacting to the development, EFCC spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren, in a statement that the DSS action was strange to the anti-corruption commission.

Uwujaren stated that by denying EFCC agents access to the building both agencies had been sharing for 20 years, the anti-graft agency’s operations had been disrupted, which he asserted had implications for the fight against economic and financial crimes in the country.

According to 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 a 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 a care with grave implications for their rights as inmates.

“All of these have wider 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.”

As of the time of filing this report, the siege has yet to abet as EFCC staff have not been able to gain access to the building, while guests visiting the commission are left stranded.

We’re Not Fighting EFCC Over Lagos Property ― DSS

But the DSS has refuted the media reports that its armed operatives on Tuesday engaged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in a battle over the ownership of a building in the Ikoyi area of Lagos State.

The DSS also denied that its operatives prevented officials of EFCC from gaining entrance into their Ikoyi, Lagos office.

This comes after several reports of palpable tension early Tuesday morning in the Ikoyi area of Lagos State when some armed operatives of the DSS were said to have barricaded the entrance leading to the EFCC zonal office in Lagos.

The security agency in a statement, signed by its Public Relations Officer, Dr Peter Afunanya also said that DSS operatives were carrying out an official duty in the building.

The DSS spokesperson said, “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.”

He also added that “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.”

The DSS public relations officer also stated that ” It is common knowledge. It is a historical fact. Check it out.”

He stressed that “There is no rivalry between the service and the EFCC over and about anything. Please do not create any imaginary one.”

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