EFCC speaks as DSS lays siege on Ikoyi office with APC

 

IKOYI, Lagos, Nigeria – The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC has issued a statement following the decision of the Department of State Service, DSS to lay siege at its office at 15 Awolowo Road and in the process preventing officials from gaining access to their office to resume normal duty.

In the statement, the EFCC said operatives of the Lagos Command of the 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, APC.

“This development is strange to the Commission given that we have cohabited with the DSS in that facility for 20 years without incident”, the EFCC said.

The EFCC noted that 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”, the EFCC said in the statement.

The EFCC described the development as having a 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”, the EFCC said.