Ownership Tussle: DSS storms EFCC’s Ikoyi office; EFCC condemns action, DSS says on rivalry

Officials of the Department of State Services (DSS) have stormed the Lagos State office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), claiming ownership of the building located at No 15A Awolowo Road in Lagos.

The DSS officials arrived in Lagos on Monday and parked on the road leading to the EFCC office.

EFCC staff was said to have gone about their work peacefully thinking that the DSS operatives were there to maintain peace for the inauguration which held on Monday.

After the EFCC officials closed from work, men of the DSS were said to have moved into the premises to prevent them from gaining access when they resumed work today, Tuesday.

Officials of the anti-graft commission on Tuesday were reported to have been denied access to their Ikoyi office by officials of the Department of State Service (DSS).

It was reported that on Tuesday morning, the DSS agents were stationed at the EFCC office on Awolowo Road in Ikoyi, Lagos, preventing the EFCC officials from accessing the building, as there was an alleged struggle between the two agencies for the EFCC building, which is on Awolowo Road, Ikoyi, Lagos.

In a statement released shortly after, the EFCC- through Wilson Uwujaren, the Head of Media and Publicity – said that the DSS’ siege on their Lagos office was shocking. The statement read, “This development is strange to the Commission given that we have cohabited with the DSS in that facility for 20 years without incident.”

The commission’s spokesperson also noted that due to this disruption, several court cases which had been scheduled for Tuesday had been cancelled, and many suspects and inmates had been left without care, which led to “grave implications for their rights as inmates,” and that “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,” Uwujaren said.

But the DSS said there is no rivalry, and that they are simply occupying their own facility.

However according to the DSS in a statement released through the Public Relations Officer, Peter Afunanya, it reiterated that there was no struggle for the Awolowo Road office between the agencies, and there was no rivalry between the agencies.

Afunanya stated, “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.”