DSS Operatives Didn't Invade EFCC Office--Dr. Afunanya
The Department of State Services (DSS), on Tuesday, denied reports that its operatives invaded the Lagos State office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), and prevented them from carrying out their routine official business.
The Department of State Services (DSS), on Tuesday, denied reports that its operatives invaded the Lagos State office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), and prevented them from carryoing out their routine official business.
There were reports early on Tuesday that the DSS occupied the 15A Awolowo Road Ikoyi off of the anti-graft agency while preventing them from working
Public Relations Officer, Department of State Security Service, Dr. Peter Afunanya, in a statement denied the alleged invasion of the EFCC office by the DSS, stating that the report was not correct.
Afunanya dismissed the reports of any fight and said it's a falsehood.
According to him, it wasn't true adding that the Service was only occupying its own facility where it is carrying out its official and statutory responsibility.
He explained that there was no rivalry between the Service and the EFCC over and about anything. He asked the media not to create any imaginary one, stressing that they are great partners working for the good of the nation.
"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." He said.
Recall that reports quoting some EFCC staff said the DSS officials was in Lagos office on Monday, and parked on the road leading to the EFCC office.
According to the EFCC staff, they staffs didn't read any meaning to the presence of the DSS and those who went for work on Monday, went their normal businesses, thinking that the DSS operatives were posted to the place to maintain peace for the inauguration which place on Monday.
It was gathered that after the close of work, DSS operatives moved into the premises to prevent them from gaining access when they resumed work Tuesday.
“The DSS even parked two armored personnel carrier outside the gate and took over our premises to prevent us from entering our offices,” an official of the commission said off-camera.
It was learnt that before now there had been an ongoing rivalry between the two agencies with the DSS laying claim to the ownership of the building.
The DSS was said to have threatened and stopped the EFCC in the recent past when the anti-graft commission tried to paint the walls of the building in the colours of the EFCC.
Presently, the EFCC officials are outside their offices with the DSS still firmly in charge of their locked premises.
But in a reaction, the DSS said it was only occupying its own facility where it is carrying out its official and statutory responsibility.
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