DSS Complies With Tinubu’s Order, Vacates Lagos Office Shared With EFCC

The Department of State Services (DSS) has vacated the office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Ikoyi, Lagos in conformity with the directive of President Bola Tinubu.

LEADERSHIP gathered that the DSS who had on Tuesday morning barricaded the office of anti-corruption agency vacated the office on Tuesday night as directed by the president.

The president had on Tuesday evening ordered the DSS to vacate the office immediately, saying if there were issues between the, “two important agencies of government”, they would be resolved amicably.

As at the time of filing this report LEADERSHIP observed that normalcy seems to have been restored at the EFCC offices on Awolowo Road, Ikoyi, as there were no signs of barriers or barricades around the building which had prevented the agency’s officials to access the building on Tuesday.

It would be recalled that the operatives of the DSS on early Tuesday morning stormed the Lagos office of the EFCC, preventing officials of the anti-graft agency from gaining access to their office in Ikoyi.

The EFCC in a statement on its official Facebook page had described the siege as shocking, noting that it has wider implications for Nigeria’s fight against economic and financial crimes.

“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,” the statement read.

As the drama unfolded, the DSS in a statement by its spokesman, Peter Afunanya, denied barricading the EFCC office and preventing EFCC officials from entering the building.

According to the DSS statement, “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 barred 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 common knowledge. It is a historical fact. Check it out.