DSS, EFCC in fresh face-off over invitation to SSS operatives

A major feud appears imminent between the Department of State Service (DSS) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over a move by the commission to interrogate some officials of the DSS.

Though details of the investigation purportedly being carried out by the EFCC were not made available to Sunday Tribune at the weekend, it was gathered that the commission had sent a request to effect the release of  the affected DSS officials.

Investigations revealed that the authorities of the DSS  had, however, refused to release the requested officials, thus creating a fresh round of animosity between the two government agencies.

A source knowledgeable on the matter said that the invitation was an attempt to rubbish  the Service since the DSS was not answerable to the EFCC.

The source said: “What are they (EFCC) trying to do, audit our operations or what? Did the service report any financial infraction to them and call for their intervention? It is just a case of overzealousness and lack of professionalism and we won’t allow that, because what you allow is what will continue.

“If they [EFCC] need any clarification on anything, they should come to our office. They know where we are. We can’t be humiliated by anybody. Never! If this is a fallout from the security report officially requested by the National Assembly, then we wish them luck. We stand by our findings. If someone is not fit and proper to hold an office, we can’t season any filth. It’s as simple as that. We never went outside of our mandate.”

The DSS has been at loggerheads with the EFCC since the Service wrote two memos to the Senate, stopping the clearance of the acting chairman of the EFCC, Mr Ibrahim Magu.

The Service, in  a March 14, 2017 security report sent to the Senate, concluded  that “in the light of the foregoing, Magu has failed the integrity test and will eventually constitute a liability to the anti-corruption drive of the present administration.”

Though sources said Magu had answered queries raised by President Muhammadu Buhari, on the said report, the responses were not made available to the Senate, which refused to clear  Magu.

When contacted, EFCC spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren,  told  Sunday Tribune that he needed to check with the authoritues to confirm the said invitation sent  to the DSS officials.