DSS, NIA DGs snub Magu at Senate hearing

DIRECTOR-GENERAL, Department of State Services, (DSS), Lawal Daura and the acting Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Mohammed Dauda, on Thursday, shunned the acting chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr Ibrahim Magu, during a sitting of Senate ad hoc committee investigating the face-off among the agencies.

Daura, Dauda and Magu had appeared before the Senate committee, headed by Senator Francis Alimikhena, over the circumstances surrounding the November 21 face-off involving the three agencies in Abuja.

Operatives of the DSS and those of NIA had, on November 21, resisted attempts by EFCC operatives to arrest the immediate past Director-General of the DSS, Mr Ita Ekpeyong and his NIA counterpart, Mr Ayo Oke, at their Asokoro residences.

At the sitting on Thursday, Daura, who came into the venue after Magu was already seated, shunned the front seat close to Magu and opted for another seat.

A similar drama was repeated when Dauda arrived the venue as he also shunned the seat close to Magu.

The trio did not exchange any pleasantries as the sitting commenced.

This was against the norm, as any time heads of agencies appeared at Senate hearings, they usually sit together, opposite the members of the committee.

In the aftermath of the November 21 face-off, the Senate, on November 22, set up the Alimikhena-led ad hoc committee to investigate the circumstances surrounding the face-off.

A few minutes into the sitting, newsmen were asked to leave the venue, following Daura’s request and condition to speak freely.

Alimikhena had asked the trio if they had any general comments to make but Daura told the lawmakers that he would prefer a closed session.

“This is a sensitive issue and I want to ask that journalists be asked to leave the room. The issues we will discuss here should not be for public consumption,” Daura had pleaded with the chairman of the committee.

Alimikhena, who agreed with him, thereafter, said “the matter is of security importance to this country. We want to see the agencies work together. We will oblige by what you have said. We want to ensure that you are comfortable enough to give something.”