Officials of the Department of State Security (DSS) stormed the Lagos office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Tuesday morning, preventing the agency’s officials from accessing their office in Ikoyi. The altercation was reportedly caused by an ongoing rivalry between both agencies over the ownership of the building.
Sources from the anti-graft agency claim that the DSS operatives, who used to occupy the building before the EFCC, had refused to leave the office and were blocking access for EFCC officials. Although dialogue had been initiated between both agencies, the DSS continued to deny access to EFCC officials.
While declining to respond to inquiries over the matter, insiders from both agencies spoke on the condition of anonymity, revealing that the situation was related to an administrative issue. The controversy arose as the previous government had handed over the office building to the EFCC, while the DSS claims that the office belongs to them.
The DSS source emphasized that the ownership dispute goes far back and that they have been fighting with the EFCC over the issue for years. Nevertheless, officials from the EFCC lamented the unexpected aggression and wondered why a new government would stoke such a controversy.
The incident reportedly caused significant disruption to the office and the public statements of both agencies are keenly awaited.
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