The Department of State Services, DSS, has confirmed that its operatives took over offices being used by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Lagos State on Tuesday.
This is as the DSS claimed that it was the legal owner and was “only occupying its own facility.”
Sources in both agencies confirmed that there had been an ongoing rivalry between the DSS and the EFCC over the ownership of the building.
Reacting to the incident, EFCC in a statement by its spokesperson, Wilson Uwujaren, described the siege as shocking, saying it has wider implications on Nigeria’s fight against economic and financial crimes.
But the DSS in a statement by its National Public Relations Officer, Peter Afunanya, denied barricading the EFCC office and denying its officials entry, saying the Service was not in a fight with the EFCC over the Lagos property.
The DSS statement read, “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. 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.”
