By Kamil Opeyemi
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Tuesday raised various implications inherent in the invasion of its Lagos office. by officials of the Directorate of State Security.
In its first response to the invasion, the commission said it was shocking that a fellow agency of the Federal Government could do this to another agency.
The commission’s reaction, contained in a statement by its spokesman, Wilson Uwujiaren, said 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.” Explaining the implications of the occupation of the commission’s office, EFCC stated further, ““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 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.” Recall that NPO Reported earlier that operatives of the DSS had on Tuesday morning taken over the building on 15A Awolowo Way Ikoyi denying EFCC officials access. In its reaction, DSS had, in a statement by Peter Ifunaya, said the commission cannot contest the ownership of the facility with the DSS saying that the building served as the office the defunct National Security Organisation (NSO). Ifunaya said DSS did not also deny EFCC officials access. He said