Gunshots Fired As DSS Alleged Siege On EFCC Office Continues

Shots have been fired from within the barricaded premises of No. 15 Awolowo Road, Ikoyi, Lagos, taken over from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) by the Department of State Services (DSS).

The premises, formerly shared by both agencies, has been under the exclusive control of armed DSS operatives since Tuesday morning.

Operatives of the government secret “police”, armed and with two armoured vehicles, have prevented EFCC personnel from gaining access to their offices on the premises.

According to the nation report, the shots were fired just as journalists from the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) approached the locked gate of the premises to get close-up video shots.

The shots appeared to have been fired in the air as a warning.

None of the journalists and EFCC operatives hanging around outside was hurt.

There has been a 20-year silent dispute between both agencies over the usage of the premises.

The premises, originally exclusively used by the DSS, have been shared by both agencies since the EFCC’s establishment by former President Olusegun Obasanjo in 2003.

It was gathered that there have been unsuccessful talks between both agencies over resolving the ownership dispute.

The EFCC condemned the barricade of the Lagos office, its largest hub.

It described the development as “strange” adding that the lockout has affected the Commission’s operations with over 500 personnel, hundreds of exhibits, and many suspects in detention.

EFCC Head, Media and Publicity, Wilson Uwujaren, warned in a statement that the siege has left suspects in detention without care with grave implications.

It said its cases scheduled for hearing in court in Lagos Tuesday have been aborted, while many suspects that it invited for questioning cannot be attended to.

But the DSS, despite picture and video evidence, denied barring the EFCC personnel.

Its spokesman, Dr. Peter Afunaya said in a statement that the building belonged to his agency.

“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,” Afunaya added.