President Bola Tinubu has directed the Department of State Security Service (DSS) to immediately vacate the office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Ikoyi, Lagos.
By Emma Ogbuehi
President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday intervened in the dispute between the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Department of State Service (DSS) over property ownership in Lagos.
Lagos residents woke up on Tuesday morning to be confronted by the crisis which led to the shooting of guns.
There was pandemonium within the vicinity of the EFCC office when men of the DSS early Tuesday barricaded access into the office area.
It was gathered that the contention was all about ownership of the building.
The DSS, while claiming that the office in contention belongs to it, denied interference in EFCC’s duties.
In a statement by its spokesman, Peter Afunanya, the DSS said that it was only occupying its own facility where it is carrying out its official and statutory responsibility.
“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,” the statement said.
READ ALSO: VIDEO: Gunshots as DSS siege on EFCC Lagos office continues
“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.”
But Tinubu waded into the matter, directing DSS operatives to vacate the property for EFCC.
In a statement by his media aide, Tunde Rahman, Tinubu directed the DSS to immediately vacate the disputed premises, saying any disagreement between the agencies of government should be amicably resolved.
“President Bola Tinubu has directed the Department of State Security Service to immediately vacate the office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission in Ikoyi, Lagos.
“The President gave the directive when reports that DSS officials stormed the EFCC office located on Awolowo Road, Ikoyi, Lagos on Tuesday, preventing officials of the anti-graft agency from accessing their workplace, was brought to his attention.
“The President said if there were issues between the two important agencies of government, they would be resolved amicably,” the statement reads.
