The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has reacted to the siege on its Lagos office at No 15 Awolowo Road, Ikoyi, Lagos, by agents of the Department of State Services (DSS), describing the action as not only shocking but also inconsistent with the synergy expected of government agencies.
DSS officials prevented EFCC staff who reported for work on Tuesday morning from gaining access to the building and were said to have placed two armoured personnel vehicles at the building to prevent the EFCC staff from entering the building, which both Federal Government agents have been sharing before this morning incident.
Reacting to the development, EFCC spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren, in a statement made available to newsmen, stated that the DSS action was strange to the anti-corruption commission.
Uwujaren said that by denying EFCC agents access to the building both agencies had been sharing for 20 years, the anti-graft agency’s operations had been disrupted, which he asserted had implications for the fight against economic and financial crimes in the country.
“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 a 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 a care with grave implications for their rights as inmates.
“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, he said.
Uwajaren added that the move may have wider implications for the nation’s fight against economic and financial crimes.
