The Department of State Services (DSS) had been accused of protecting its officials indicted in the $2 billion arms scandal allegedly perpetrated by former National Security Adviser (NSA), Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd).
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which revealed on Tuesday that some military officers indicted in the scam have been arrested, wondered why DSS is protecting its officials.
The EFCC position was revealed in a statement by its spokesman, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren.
Uwujaren said it was wrong for anybody to insinuate that the EFCC was after DSS because of its damning report against the EFCC Chairman, Ibrahim Magu, in the National Assembly.
The commission said it invited DSS officials just as it had invited officers of the Nigerian Army, the Nigerian Air Force and the Nigerian Navy.
According to the anti-graft agency, while military officers made themselves available and culpable ones have since been arraigned, the DSS refused to release its officers for questioning.
The EFCC 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, Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd.), 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.
“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.”
