EFCC ‘knocks’ DSS for stopping personnel from arms deal inquiry
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has alleged that personnel of agencies invited to be interviewed in the case of arms deal investigation, honoured their request except the Department of State Services (DSS).
“In the course of investigating the arms procurement scandal in the Office of the former National Security Adviser, ONSA, Col. Sambo Dasuki, the Commission has had cause to request the release of officers of other security agencies, including the Nigerian Army, the Nigerian Air force, the Nigerian Navy and now the DSS, for questioning. All but the DSS have acceded to this request,” EFCC said in a statement by its spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren during the week.
However, the EFCC quoting a newspaper report said the issue was not to mean there was friction between the two federal government institutions.
Uwujaren pointed out that EFCC was drawn to a report captioned, “DSS, EFCC in fresh face-off over invitation of SSS operatives,” which appeared in a national daily newspaper (not Daily Trust) of November 5, 2017 that painted a picture of an imaginary feud brewing between the Department of State Services (DSS) and EFCC over the alleged invitation of some DSS operatives.
According to him, it was not strange for the EFCC to invite for questioning officers of other law enforcement agencies alleged to be complicit in any case being investigated by the Commission.
He clarified that there are protocols in doing this, “and part of that protocol is to write to the heads of such agencies, requesting that the officer(s) in question be released to be interviewed.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the arms procurement investigation is national in outlook with alleged culprits cutting across the military, security establishments as well as the political class. It is not targeted at any institution,” he added.
He noted that, “the insinuation about a revenge-instigated investigation of the DSS by the EFCC over its role in the senate refusal to confirm Ibrahim Magu as substantive chairman of the EFCC, is not only false, but pure mischief contrived for motives that are unclear.”
Uwujaren said the report claimed the investigation was an attempt by the Commission to “rubbish the Service since the DSS was not answerable to the EFCC.”
Contacted for details of the number of DSS personnel requested for questioning, their designations or ranks and how long the invitation has been pending, Uwujaren declined to give more information beyond what is already in the EFCC statement.
Besides, Daily Trust on Sunday was unable to get an official response from the Department of State Security Services (DSS) as the Service has not appointed a spokesperson that the media can reach out to with inquiries or seeking clarifications on issues.