Senate conducts investigation of clash between EFCC and DSS behind closed doors

The Senate ad-hoc committee set up to investigate the face-off between the EFCC and DSS on November 21, 2017 in Abuja began its hearing on Thursday in camera.
In attendance at the hearing were the Director General, Department of State Services, Mr. Lawal Daura; Acting Chairman, EFCC, Mr. Ibrahim Magu; and Acting Director General, NIA, Mr. Mohammed Dauda.
Magu was accompanied by officials of the EFCC deployed for the attempted arrest of the immediate past Director-General of the DSS, Mr. Ita Ekpenyong; and former Director-General, NIA, Ambassador Ayo Oke, on November 21, which were prevented by DSS operatives.

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Chairman of the committee, Senator Francis Alimikhena, after his opening remarks at the hearing on EFCC/DSS clash, asked if any of the heads of the agencies in attendance had any observations or questions.
The NIA and EFCC bosses said they had none but the DSS boss asked that the hearing be conducted in camera.
Daura said, “I will like to seek or ask the distinguished committee whether our testimonies will not be given in the presence of the press.”
Alimikhena agreed with the DSS boss, saying, “I know. Good. We have gone through all your (written) presentations and we have seen all your papers. The matter is of security importance to this country. The Senate and indeed Nigeria want settlement and more cooperation between the three security agencies of this country. So, we will do all that is possible to make you feel comfortable to air your views. With what you have said, we will abide by it and make sure that we give you all the necessary support to make it comfortable for every one of us.”
A member of the committee and Chairman of the Senate Committee on Financial Crimes and Anti-Corruption, Senator Chukwuka Utazi, also called for a closed-door session.

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He said, “It is very important and like the chairman has just said, we are here for this investigative hearing to make sure that we listen to all of you who were invited; and at the end of the day, to find a resolution. We want better a collaboration in the discharge of your respective duties. Yes, you are different establishments but you are working for one country. We want to ensure that everything that will be done will, at the end of the day, come out better in terms of resolution of these issues. I support it that most of this will be done in camera and we are going to listen to one another, so that everybody will feel free.”

www.sojworld.com © December 14, 2017