A former director of the Department of State Service (DSS), Mike Ejiofor has said there is no ongoing rivalry between the counter-intelligence and surveillance outfit and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Ejiofor stated this on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Friday.

Tensions between the two arms of the law came to a head after the DSS stormed the Lagos State office of the EFCC, to take ownership of the building located at No 15A Awolowo Road in Lagos.

The building houses EFCC’s Lagos office.

The incident happened a day after the inauguration of the President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

However, Ejiofor denied that both outfits are rivals.

“The truth is that the DSS accommodates the EFCC as a sister agency, there is no rivalry between the DSS and EFCC.”

He noted that President Tinubu has constantly emphasised the need for security agencies to strengthen coordination and not work at cross purposes while addressing security agencies in his first few days in office.

Ejiofor stated that any supposed rivalry between the DSS and EFCC would not affect the fair hearing and trial process of suspended EFCC chairman Abdulrasheed Bawa.

“I think the PRO issued a statement to that effect. I personally started the NSO (National Security Organisation) at 15, Awolowo Road, which has been our headquarters. Now, there has been correspondence between the EFCC and the DSS for them to vacate because they need to use that place.

“The DSS also said you (EFCC) people must go, the EFCC chairman came to appeal to the DG so, I don’t see any rancour.

“The DSS is charged with investigating crimes against the state. So, whether Bawa would get a fair hearing, is guaranteed. Because the DSS as far as I know without sounding immodest would always give you the benefit of the doubt.”