FIJ
Reports of a standoff between the Department of State Security (DSS) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) flooded social media on Tuesday morning.
According to these accounts, DSS operatives stormed the EFCC office in Ikoyi, Lagos, denying the anti-graft agency’s officials access to the building and its premises.
Sources suggest that a long-standing rivalry over ownership of the building exists between the two agencies.
According to reports, DSS operatives forcefully entered the office at around 7:00 am on Tuesday and disregarded dialogue attempts.
FIJ visited the premises on Tuesday and got additional information.
DSS GAINED ACCESS TO THE EFCC OFFICE ON MONDAY
An EFCC official told our reporter that contrary to some media reports, the DSS did not storm the premises on Tuesday morning. Instead, the DSS gained entry to the compound on Monday while EFCC officials were observing a public holiday. Once inside, the DSS officials secured the premises by locking it.
“When we arrived this morning, we discovered that they had locked our compound. They were all armed, so I had to temporarily vacate the premises,” the official stated. “I left because I could not endanger my life for the sake of the government. Even if I were to die, life would go on.”
Regarding the impact on the area’s tranquility, the official denied any disturbance, explaining that life in the vicinity continued as usual since the DSS did not interfere with the residents.
DSS LIED
In response to earlier reports about barricading the EFCC office, the DSS said on Twitter, “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.”
Negating this statement, another EFCC officer, who requested anonymity, said she was present in the compound when the DSS gained access.
