President Tinubu has ordered the Department of State Security Service (DSS) to immediately leave the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) office in Ikoyi, Lagos.
The directive was announced in a statement from the State House Presidential Villa in Abuja on May 30, 2023.
The president’s decision came after learning about reports that DSS officials had entered the EFCC office on Awolowo Road, Ikoyi, Lagos, earlier that day, preventing EFCC officials from carrying out their duties.
President Tinubu emphasized the need for a peaceful resolution if any conflicts arose between these two important government agencies.
Reactions from EFCC
The Commission condemned the action of the DSS. It described it as a siege on EFCC
“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,” the statement read.
It added, “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 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 wilder 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.”
