President Bola Tinubu has issued a directive to the Department of State Security Service to vacate the premises of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission office in Ikoyi, Lagos.
This decision was made following reports that DSS officials had prevented EFCC personnel entry into their office located on Awolowo Road.
The Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Media Centre in a tweet said President Tinubu was made aware of the situation and promptly intervened, expressing his concern over the incident.
He emphasized the need for a peaceful resolution to the dispute between the two government agencies, ensuring that the functions of both agencies are not compromised, the tweet added.
Claim and counter claim
The disagree between the DSS and the EFCC had created a tense atmosphere at the EFCC office, as the DSS officials prevented EFCC staff from entering the premises.
The DSS denied the reports, In a WhatsApp message to some reporters.
The spokesperson, Peter Afunanya, dismissed the allegations, asserting that the DSS was operating within its own facility to carry out its official duties.
He stated, “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.“
However, the EFCC remained resolute in its claim that the DSS denied its operatives entry into their Lagos office.
Wilson Uwujaren, the Head of Media and Publicity for the EFCC, issued a statement reiterating the agency’s stance.
According to the statement, the EFCC operatives arrived at their office only to be met with agents of the DSS had erected barricades at the entrance, employing armored personnel carriers to prevent access.
The EFCC expressed deep concern over the development, emphasizing that for the past 20 years, they had coexisted with the DSS in the same facility without any incident.
Writing by Annabel Nwachukwu; Editing by Saadatu Albashir