EFCC accuses DSS of shielding their personnel

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has accused the Department of State Services (DSS) of shielding its officers who were implicated in the $2.1b arms purchase scam.

Uwujaren also told Vanguard that Nigerian Army, the Nigerian Air force and the Nigerian Navy have all complied to the EFCC’s request to allow its personnels be interrogated.

The anti-graft agency, in a statement, said “It is important to state that it is 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.

“But 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.

“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.

“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.

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“Consequently, 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 specious, but pure mischief contrived for motives that are unclear.”

DSS Vs EFCC

According to reports, the DSS and EFCC have been at loggerheads following therelease of damning allegations against Ibrahim Magu.

The DSS, in December 2016 accusing Magu of corrupt practices, reportedly in a bid to discourage the Senate from confirming him as EFCC chairman.

Recently, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has accused the Department of State Service (DSS) of shielding the embattled former chairman of the pension tasks force, Abdulrasheed Maina.