…Fault ₦2bn Transaction Claim, Seek DSS Probe Into Officer’s Death
The Commander of the Mining Marshals of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), John Onoja, has dismissed a police report linking one of his operatives to more than ₦2 billion in suspicious bank transactions, describing the allegation as false and misleading.
Onoja also alleged that foreign nationals involved in illegal mining activities were sponsoring efforts to discredit the Mining Marshals following the death of one of its officers.
Responding to a viral publication titled “Nigeria Police Arrest Three NSCDC Officers over Colleague’s Death, Trace Over ₦2 Billion To Suspect’s Bank Account,” Onoja insisted that the financial records of the officer in question did not support the claims contained in the report.
According to him, the Zenith Bank account allegedly under investigation recorded less than ₦1 million in transactions within the last year.
“The Zenith Bank account number 1008392780 belonging to Jibrin Labaran shows a total debit of ₦760,457.25 and total credit of ₦760,129.85 over the last year, representing his salary and entitlements as an officer, contrary to the ₦2 billion claim being circulated,” he stated.
The Mining Marshals commander accused officers of Team N of the Force Intelligence Department (FID), led by CSP Abdulmajeed Abisoye Oyewumi, of repeatedly interfering with the unit’s operations against illegal mining activities in Nasarawa State.
He alleged that the police team had, on several occasions, disrupted lawful operations and attempted to frustrate prosecutions involving suspected illegal miners.
“There is a history of consistent blackmail by Team N of the Force Intelligence Department headed by CSP Abdulmajeed Abisoye Oyewumi. For over a year, the same team has repeatedly disrupted Mining Marshals’ lawful operations at the site,” Onoja said.
He disclosed that he had written to the Inspector-General of Police requesting that the investigation into the death of Deputy Superintendent of Corps Agada Levi, an operative attached to the Mining Marshals, be transferred to the Department of State Services (DSS) for an independent review.
“Hence my letter to the IGP requesting that the matter be transferred to the DSS for impartial handling. The appropriate thing to do was to allow another agency to review the case,” he said.
Onoja said the Mining Marshals supported Levi’s family after his death by organising and funding his burial, adding that friends of the unit later donated ₦3 million to the deceased officer’s widow.
He further alleged that foreign nationals whose illegal mining operations had been shut down were behind the campaign against the Mining Marshals.
“We have it on good authority that the Chinese operators whose illegal mining site was closed in Nasarawa State are bankrolling the campaign against the Mining Marshals.
“The real actors behind these attacks are foreign nationals who have become united in their opposition to our activities against illegal mining,” he alleged.
The commander also claimed that police officers once accompanied foreign nationals during an attempt to arrest the lead prosecution counsel handling cases involving illegal mining suspects.
According to him, soldiers stationed at the lawyer’s residence prevented the arrest because the officers were accompanied by Chinese nationals.
Onoja noted that Levi’s death was the first fatality recorded by the Mining Marshals since the special unit was established more than two years ago.
“We are not denying that Agada Levi died in the line of duty. Sadly, he did. But none of the management team of the Mining Marshals knows anything about the circumstances being alleged.
“CSP Abdulmajeed Abisoye Oyewumi is only trying to use the incident to achieve his unfinished objectives against the Mining Marshals,” he said.
He urged members of the public to remain calm and allow relevant authorities to review the matter, expressing confidence that an independent investigation would establish the facts surrounding the case.
