Senate gets involved, to probe DSS, EFCC standoff

One day after operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Department of State Services (DSS), and the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), were engaged in near fisticuffs, the Senate has announced that it will investigate.

EFCC and DSS operatives, had a major standoff on Tuesday, over purported moves to arrest the immediate-past Director-General of the Service, Mr Ekpeyong Ita at his Maitama residence.

In a similar move, NIA operatives halted EFCC operatives from arresting the sacked Director-General of the intelligence agency, Mr Ayo Oke‎.

The Senate, at its plenary on Tuesday, said it will set up an adhoc committee to investigate the circumstances surrounding the face-off. The committee is expected to report back within two weeks.

The Senate arrived at the decision, following the adoption of a motion sponsored by Senator Dino Melaye who represents Kogi West. The lawmaker, in the motion, decried what he termed as a national disaster, the face-off between security agencies in Nigeria

He said the scene has embarrassed Nigeria before the international community, and that if nothing is done to nip the problem, it will degenerate into a national disaster.

Read also: Stand-off in the streets as DSS, EFCC clash in bid to arrest Ita

Melaye said: “The EFCC went to the residence of the former Director General of the DSS, Ita Ekpeyong to effect an arrest. The DSS stopped the EFCC from arresting him. That created an environmental brouhaha. The whole environment and neighbours were stopped from lawfully gaining entrance into their homes because of this confusion.

“Same yesterday (Tuesday), the EFCC wanted to arrest the former Director-General of NIA, Mr. Oke. Also, the officers of the Nigeria Intelligence agency stopped that arrest.

“We are not here to say who is to blame. We have been embarrassed before the international community. That two sister agencies will engage in a fisticuffs is a national embarrassment. Arrest and stoppage of arrests is bad. Mr. President, this is a recipe for national disaster.”

Deputy Minority Whip of the Senate, Senator Biodun Olujimi, in her contribution, called on the President to take charge of the situation and call heads of security agencies to order.

“Right now, we have a situation whereby nobody is in charge of anything and we cannot honestly blame anyone for what is happening. The truth is that you cannot go to the house of a security agent, a man who had kept the secrets of Nigeria for so long and just try to arrest him like a chicken.

“There has to be someone that we can hold responsible when two brothers are fighting. The person that is supposed to be held responsible has not done anything, he is not doing his work. This is the first time we will see gross irresponsibility in government whereby there is no arbiter.

“No one to come in between two agencies that belong to only one person. The two agencies report to one person, the Presidency and now we find them fighting on the pages of the newspapers. Its a shame. We are calling on the President. He has to sit up. He should be up and doing. Call these people to order.

“You will remember that we rejected Mr Magu and up till today, nothing has been said about it. Something has to be done. The Presidency has to be called to order. Nobody is in charge of this government. Nobody is in charge and somebody needs to be in charge,” Olujimi fired.

Senate Leader, Senator Ahmad Lawan disagreed. He said President Buhari is still in charge. He however supported the position of his colleagues that the issue be investigated.

He said: “It is one rare motion brought by Senator Dino Melaye. I support that position. But let me say this that President Muhamadu Buhari is in full control of the government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“Even when Mr. President was away to attend to his health, the Acting President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo was in full control. The statement by our colleague is unacceptable.

“My opinion about what happened is that, could it be that EFCC did not get the right kind of document to arrest those people? If they did, then the security agencies are wrong. Only the investigation would reveal this.

“This Senate is the highest lawmaking body in Nigeria. I would urge us to calm down especially the opposition, as it appears they are neither here nor there. Let there be an investigation before we apportion any blame.”

By Ehisuan Odia…

 

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