By Celestine Okafor (Editor-in-chief) @CelestineOkaf11
The Department of State Services (DSS), on Tuesday, denied involvement in any alleged altercation with the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) over an office building in Lagos as was reported in some sections of the media, saying it was a false and misleading report.
The DSS explained that the Service is only occupying its own facility where it is carrying out its official and statutory responsibility, and that it did not barricade the Anti- Financial Crime Agency from entering its Lagos office as claimed in the trending news report.
Explaining further on what actually happened between the two key federal organizations regarding the said property, DSS Spokesman, Dr Peter Afunnanya, said in a statement on Tuesday, May 30, 2023, that, "By the way, there is no controversy over No. 15A Awolowo Road as being insinuated by the Media".
He queried: "Did the EFCC tell you it is contesting the ownership of the building? I will be surprised if it is contesting the ownership".
Dr Afunnanya clarified that the said Awolowo Road Office, Ikoyi, Lagos property, was actually the headquarters of the Nigerian Security Organization (NSO), which it occupied since 1976, during the eras of the then Col. Abdullahi Muhammed, Alhaji Umaru Shinkafi, Alhaji Mohammed Lawal Rafindadi and Alhaji Ismaila Gwarzo/Col. Kunle Togun and Chief Albert K. Horsfall uptil the mid 80s before its operational office was relocated to Abuja in 1991 by General Ibrahim Babangida's military junta.
He said the same property also became the headquarters of the State Security Service (SSS) which was a silhouette of Ambassador Rafindadi's dreaded NSO even after Decree 19 of 1986 unbundled the organization and gave it a name change as a purely domestic intelligence body, before it was re-christened Department of State Service (DSS) at the dawn of democracy in 1999 by the ex-president Olusegun Obasanjo administration.
"It is a common knowledge. It is a historical fact. Check it out", Dr Afunnanya challenged, adding emphatically that, "There is no rivalry between the Service and the EFCC over and about anything".
He pleaded: "Please do not create any imaginary one (fight). They (DSS and EFCC) are great partners working for the good of the nation. Dismiss any falsehood of a fight". NNL.
