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‘Court cases aborted’ — EFCC speaks on DSS ‘siege’ on Lagos office

May 30, 2023 12:02 pm

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) says court cases scheduled for hearing on Tuesday were aborted due to the siege of the Department of States Services (DSS) at its Lagos office.

TheCable had earlier reported that DSS officials prevented personnel of EFCC from gaining access to their office located at Awolowo road, Ikoyi, Lagos.

TheCable understands that the tussle between both agencies has to do with the ownership of the building.

Reacting to the incident, Peter Afunanya, DSS spokesperson, said his agency did not barricade the EFCC office in Ikoyi, adding that the DSS is only occupying its facility.

“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,” Afunanya said.

‘EXHIBITS, SUSPECTS IN DETENTION DISRUPTED’

In a statement, Wilson Uwujaren, EFCC spokesperson, said DSS officials barricaded the entrance of the office of the anti-graft agency using armoured personnel carriers.

Uwujaren said inmates in the agency’s detention facility have been left unattended to owing to the siege.

“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 spokesperson said.

“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 wider 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.”