Security agencies in ‘dirty’ supremacy fight
The last of frictions between security operatives is yet to be heard with the recent prevention of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) by the Department of State Services (DSS) from arresting a former Director General of the agency in Abuja.
The EFCC had stormed the residence of a former DSS, Ekpenyong Ita situated at 46, Mamman Nasir, Asokoro, Abuja in effect arrest and investigate allegations on offences bordering on diversion of public funds among others but was prevented from doing so. In fact, the EFCC operatives were prevented from entry into the premises.
Also, efforts to arrest a former Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency, (NIA) Ayo Oke by EFCC was blocked leading to hours of faceoff with the DSS operatives.
Oke was sacked by President Muhammadu Buhari in following the discovery of over N43 billion by the EFCC at the Osborne Towers in Ikoyi, Lagos.
Few months ago, the EFCC 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).
The EFCC through its spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren, had complained that: “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.”
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.
However, on the present faceoff, the EFCC boss, Ibrahim Magu, informed reporters at the presidential Villa, Abuja, that both Ekpenyong and Oke would soon be arrested.
“There must be reasons, strong reasons before we go for an arrest… We are not discouraged at all. The law must take its course, nobody is above the law,” Magu said.
However, whether EFCC will finally effect the arrests or not, the faceoff was something they should be ashamed of.