The operatives of the Lagos Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, have expressed worries over the siege laid by the agents of the Department of State Services DSS.
This happened on May 30, 2023, at the Ikoyi office in Lagos State.
According to the EFCC official Facebook handles, the operatives of the command 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.
The EFCC described the development as "strange" while expressing concern about the cohabitation of the two agencies.
"This development is strange to the Commission given that we have cohabited with the DSS in that facility for 20 years without incident."
The anti-graft agency also decry the state of the inmates in detention, as their right to care is denied, while cases scheduled for court hearing have been aborted as well as those who have been invited for questioning.
The statement reads; "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 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."