DSS, EFCC bosses face Senate panel over inter-agency clashes

The heads of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Department of State Security on Thursday faced a Senate committee set up to probe the recent clash between operatives of the two agencies.

Both agencies operatives had clashed in Abuja over attempts by EFCC to arrest the former DG of the DSS, Ekpeyong Ita, and a former DG of the Nigeria Intelligence Agency (NIA).

The rift between the Director-General of DSS, Lawal Daura and the Acting Chairman of the EFCC, Ibrahim Magu, was resurrected, when the two appeared before the Senate committee.

Daura and Magu appeared before a Senate committee set up to investigate the circumstances surrounding the November 21 face-off between the two leading agencies.

EFCC and DSS operatives, had a major stand-off on the Monday, November 21st, over purported moves to arrest the immediate-past Director-General of the Service, Mr. Ekpeyong Ita, at his Maitama residence.

Usually in the Senate, when heads of government agencies are summoned to appear before standing or adhoc committees, they usually exchange pleasantries and sit on a reserved seat on the front row in any of the hearing rooms.

But at Thursday’s investigative hearing, Daura who came into the room, 30 minutes behind Senators, boycotted the front row where Magu was already seated.

Rather, he opted for another seat. They did not exchange any pleasantries before the commencement of the business of the day.

In a similar move, the Acting Director-General of NIA, Mohammed Dauda, who walked in when the hearing was about to commence, also boycotted Magu’s seat and opted for another one. He did not exchange any pleasantries with Magu either.

Barely five minutes into the hearing, Senate Correspondents were told to vacate the hall. The committee chairman, Alimikhena, said they needed to create a friendly atmosphere for the guests to speak freely.

Trouble started when Alimikhena asked the trio, Daura, Magu and Dauda if they had any comments to make. While Magu and Dauda did not object to the presence of newsmen, Daura however told Senators that he would only speak freely if journalists were not in the room.

“Mr. Chairman and other members, I have some reservations I need to make. 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 said.

Giving nod to Daura’s request, Alimikhena said: “I have heard what you 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.”

Another member of the committee and Chairman of Senate committee on Anti-Corruption and Financial Crimes, Senator Chukwuka Utazi, supported the position of Alimikhena.

“We want to ensure that everything that is done here is done to ensure that the interest of the country is protected. I agree that journalists should not be allowed to remain here at this time,” he said.
By Ehisuan Odia…

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now