Senate Wades Into DSS, EFCC, NIA Clash Over Attempted Arrest Of Oke, Ekpeyong

Senate on Wednesday waded into attempted arrest of the former Director-General  of National Intelligence Agency, Ayo Oke and the immediate past Director-General  of Department of state services, Ita Ekpeyong by operatives of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) which led fisticuff among the sister agencies. 

Operatives of EFCC had made an attempt to arrest former DG of NIA and Former DSS Director General in their residences , but the security officials attached to both former Director-General scuttled the arrest. 

However, coming with the point of order on the ugly incidence that transpired among the security agencies, Senator Dino Melaye said:

“Mr. President, the media and the social media, print and electronics has been awash with a disaster that took place yesterday. 

“The EFCC went to the residence of the former Director General of the SSS Ita Ekpeyong to effect an arrest and the Directorate of State Security stopped the EFCC from arresting him. 

“That created environmental brouhaha. 

“The whole environment and neighbours were stopped from lawfully gaining entrance into their homes because of this confusion.

“Same yesterday, the EFCC wanted to arrest the former DG NIA, Mr. Oke. 

“Also, the officers of the Nigeria Intelligence agency stopped that arrest. 

“We will recall that the Director of SSS has written this Senate before now on Mr. Magu, the Chairman of EFCC.

“We are not here to say who is at blame. We have been embarrassed before the international community. 

“That two sister agencies will engage in fisticuff. Arrest and stoppage of arrests. Mr. President, this is a recipe for national disaster.”

Also supporting Melaye’s point of order, Senator Biodun Olujimi said:

“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 chicken.

“Mr. President, 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, is not doing his work. 

“This is the first time we’ll see gross irresponsibility in government whereby there is no arbiter. 

“No one to come in between two agencies that belongs 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, it’s a shame.

“We are calling on the President, he has to sit up, he should be up and doing. Call these people to order.

“Mr. President, you will remember that we rejected Mr. Magu and up till today nothing has been said about it. 

“Mr. President, 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 need to be in charge.

The Senate leader,  Ahmad Lawan in his own submission said, “It is one rare motion brought by Sen. Dino Melaye. I support that position. 

“But let me say this: President Muhammadu 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, Yemi Osinbajo was in full control. The statement by our colleague is unacceptable.

“My opinion about what happen 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 highest lawmaking body in Nigeria. I would urge us to calm down especially the opposition, as it appears rather here nor there. 

“Let there be an investigation before we apportion any blame.”

Senate however unanimously agreed to set up ad-hoc committee to investigate the matter and report back in two weeks. 

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