Economic and Financial Crimes Commission says the manner with which operatives of its sister agency, Department of State Services denied its operatives entry into its Lagos office earlier on Tuesday is shocking.
The EFCC’s reaction followed the denial of the claim by the DSS, describing the incident as “not true.”
DSS had refuted reports that its agents denied EFCC operatives access to its office in Lagos.
DSS spokesperson, Peter Afunanya had said that the secret police was occupying “its own facility” where it was carrying out its operations.
He had told Punch, “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.”
But EFCC’s spokesman, However, Wilson Uwujaren, insisted in an official statement that the DSS denied its operatives entry into their Lagos office on Tuesday.
The statement reads, “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 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.
“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.”