By Samuel Ologeh
The Department of State Security Services, (DSS) has invades the office of the Lagos Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on No. 15 Awolowo Road, Ikoyi.
The incidence took place on Monday morning.
The DSS barricaded the EFCC zonal office preventing entry of EFCC workers
Observers describe the development as shocking.
The DSS had barricaded the entrance with armoured personnel carriers.
In a statement made available to Irohinoodua on Monday signed by Wilson Uwujaren, the EFCC condemned the invasion.
“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.
It 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.
All of these have 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.