EFCC set to interrogate sacked DSS boss Lawan Daura over alleged N17 billion fraud

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is set to invite the sacked Director General of the Directorate of State Services (DSS), Lawan Daura, for questioning over an alleged N17 billion scam that happened while he was in office. 

Daura, who was sacked by Acting President Yemi Osinbajo following the siege to the National Assembly by DSS operatives on Tuesday August 7th, is currently being interrogated by the police. He was arrested by officials of Federal-SARS shortly after the termination of his appointment.

According to sources in the EFCC who spoke with Daily Trust, operatives of the anti-graft agency on Tuesday evening visited the police facility at Guzape Abuja where Daura was being held preparatory to receiving him.

    “It is expected that the former DSS boss will be handed [to the EFCC] over by the police for further interrogation to explain how the N17 billion traced to the headquarters of the DSS was utilized,” said one of the sources at the anti-graft agency.

The source said the money was left behind by the Daura’s predecessor Ita Ekpeyong. It was alleged that Ekpeyong received N20 billion from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) at the end of former President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration. Ekpeyong, it was also alleged, converted N17 billion into United States of America (USA) dollars, which he left behind when he handed over to Daura.

The funds were reportedly traced by EFCC investigators as a fall out of discoveries after the $43 billion linked to the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) was found stashed at a private apartment inside Osborne Towers in Ikoyi, Lagos.

EFCC sources said operatives of the commission had been working on the investigation report that indicted the management of the DSS, but that the investigation was frustrated by Daura.

DSS agents, on the orders of Daura, prevented EFCC agents from arresting Ita Ekpeyong and sacked DG of NIA Ayo Oke on November 21, 2017, to prevent the investigation.

    “So now is a good time to get Daura to answer questions in connection to the investigation earlier started,” sources said.