LAGOS, Nigeria — The longstanding dispute over the premises at No. 15 Awolowo Road, Ikoyi, Lagos, shared by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, and the Department of State Services, DSS, took a dramatic turn when shots were fired within the barricaded premises on Tuesday, May 30, 2023.
This incident happened just as journalists approached the gate to take close-up video shots.
The EFCC and its police officers expressed shock at the development, but were relieved that no one was hurt.
The property, originally used solely by the DSS, has been jointly utilized since the inception of the EFCC by former President Olusegun Obasanjo in 2003.
Efforts to resolve the 20-year silent dispute over ownership and usage have remained largely unsuccessful.
The EFCC, in a press statement, described the action as a “siege,” expressing surprise at the move by the DSS.
They stated that this action has disrupted the Commission’s operations in its largest hub, with over 500 personnel, hundreds of exhibits, and many suspects in detention being affected.
Despite photo and video evidence to the contrary, the DSS denied barring EFCC personnel from entering the premises.
Peter Afunanya, the spokesperson for the DSS, insisted in a statement that the DSS is “only occupying its own facility where it is carrying out its official and statutory responsibility.” The full implications of this escalating conflict remain unclear at this time.
