The Department of State Services (DSS), Nigeria’s secret police, has advised the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to avoid political matters for the time being.
According to sources, the recent raids on EFCC offices – first in Ikoyi, Lagos, and then in Abuja – were more political than they appeared.
“The DSS has told the EFCC to concentrate on non-political cases for now,” a security source told Newsmen on Tuesday.
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During the raids, DSS agents also took files and flash drives holding sensitive information regarding past governors, ministers, and senators under investigation.
“During the secret raid of EFCC offices in Abuja and Lagos, the DSS carted away files and flash disks of ex-governors, senators and ministers under investigation,” one of the sources said.
SaharaReporters exclusively reported on Sunday, June 18, 2023, that the DSS stormed the offices of its sister agency, the EFCC, on Friday night, June 16.
The raid was said to have lasted till early Saturday morning.
It was learned that the activity was carried out at night to keep the public from learning about it.
EFCC officials were also warned not to discuss the raid with members of the public.
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At the time, an informant told Newsmen that the DSS was working in the interests of someone “very important” to President Bola Tinubu.
Another source speculated that it was related to the DSS’s recent closing of the EFCC office in Ikoyi, Lagos.
“I heard the raid and partisanship of the DSS was the reason why they raised an alarm yesterday (Saturday) that some of their disgruntled officers are planning to shame the agency and embarrass the leadership,” the source said.
Some of the investigators handling the case of former Zamfara State Governor, Bello Matawalle are to be summoned by the DSS for interrogation, it was further learnt.
“That is actually intimidation, symptomatic of what former Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami did during Ibrahim Magu’s time as EFCC chairman to get several suspects off the hook,” one of the sources had said.
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The EFCC said that Matawalle was being investigated in two distinct cases.
One of these is a case involving his own company that received money from the National Security Adviser’s office without completing the contract, which was probed by Magu. The third lawsuit includes Matawalle’s alleged fraud while in office.
Someone close to President Bola Tinubu also told our reporter that the president was aware of the former governor’s efforts to prevent the anti-corruption body from investigating him, including obtaining court orders to prevent the commission and other agencies from conducting their investigations.
It should be recalled that President Tinubu just suspended Bawa indefinitely from office.
Newsmen observed in their June 18 report that it was unclear what Tinubu and the DSS had in mind when they detained Bawa and carted away critical papers related to the commission’s investigations.
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However, sources revealed on Tuesday that the raids were political, with files and flash drives relating to the investigation of past governors, senators, and ministers being taken away.
Last month, DSS operatives raided the EFCC’s Lagos headquarters, stopping officials from entering the anti-graft agency’s office in Ikoyi.
According to top sources in both agencies, hundreds of EFCC employees were locked out of their offices owing to what was widely perceived to be an office-related incident.
“The EFCC officers are shocked; they have been using the building for more than 20 years. Several suspects are there and there are fears that some might have been illegally released,” a top source had said.
President Tinubu later ordered the DSS to immediately evacuate the EFCC office, stating that any disagreements between the “two important agencies of government” should be settled amicably.
In a statement on its official Facebook page, the EFCC called the siege as frightening, saying it had wider ramifications for Nigeria’s fight against economic and financial crimes.
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“The operatives of the Lagos Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, 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.
“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 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.
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“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,” the statement read.
The DSS, however, denied barricading the EFCC office in a statement issued by its Public Relations Officer, Peter Afunanya.
According to the statement, the Service is not at odds with the EFCC over the Lagos property.
The DSS statement read, “The attention of the Department of State Services (DSS) has been drawn to some media reports that it barricaded the EFCC from entering its Lagos office.
“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.
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“By the way, there is no controversy over No 15A Awolowo Road as being insinuated by the Media. Did the EFCC tell you it is contesting the ownership of the building? I will be surprised if it is contesting the ownership.
“Awolowo Road was NSO headquarters. SSS/DSS started from there. It is a common knowledge. It is a historical fact. Check it out.
“There is no rivalry between the Service and the EFCC over and about anything. Please do not create any imaginary one. They are great partners working for the good of the nation. Dismiss any falsehood of a fight.”
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