The Commander of the Mining Marshals unit of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), John Onoja, has dismissed a police investigation report linking one of his officers to over ₦2 billion in alleged suspicious financial transactions.
Onoja described the report as false and misleading, insisting that it was part of a coordinated effort to tarnish the image of the Mining Marshals, a special unit established to combat illegal mining activities across the country.
The controversy followed a viral publication claiming that police investigators traced more than ₦2 billion in suspicious transactions to a bank account belonging to one of the officers being investigated over the death of a Mining Marshals operative.
Reacting to the allegation on Monday, Onoja stated that records from the account in question showed transactions of less than ₦1 million within the past year.
According to him, the Zenith Bank account belonging to the officer, Jibrin Labaran, recorded a total debit of ₦760,457.25 and a total credit of ₦760,129.85, mainly from salary payments.
“The claim that over ₦2 billion passed through the account is completely false and does not reflect the actual bank records,” he said.
Onoja further alleged that officers attached to Team N of the Force Intelligence Department, led by CSP Abdulmajeed Abisoye Oyewumi, had repeatedly interfered with the lawful operations of the Mining Marshals at illegal mining sites in Nasarawa State.
He claimed the dispute between both agencies predates the current investigation and stems from efforts by the Mining Marshals to crack down on illegal mining activities.
The commander also accused some foreign nationals involved in illegal mining of sponsoring campaigns aimed at discrediting the Mining Marshals and its leadership.
According to him, these individuals were unhappy with enforcement actions that led to the closure of several illegal mining sites.
Onoja revealed that he had formally written to the Inspector-General of Police, requesting that the investigation into the death of Deputy Superintendent of Corps Agada Levi be transferred to the Department of State Services (DSS) for what he described as a more impartial review.
He argued that the DSS would be better positioned to conduct an independent investigation free from existing conflicts.
Levi, who was attached to the Mining Marshals, reportedly died while carrying out official duties, leading to investigations and the arrest of some NSCDC personnel by the police.
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Defending the conduct of the Mining Marshals leadership after Levi’s death, Onoja said the unit immediately took responsibility for supporting the deceased officer’s family and organising his burial.
He disclosed that a burial committee was set up and all expenses were handled without placing any financial burden on the family. He added that friends and supporters of the unit later raised ₦3 million for Levi’s widow.
While acknowledging the tragic loss of the officer, Onoja maintained that the leadership of the Mining Marshals had no knowledge of the circumstances surrounding his death.
He called on the public to remain calm and allow the relevant authorities to carry out a thorough review of the case.
“We are not denying that Agada Levi died in the line of duty. But none of the management team of the Mining Marshals knows anything about the circumstances of his death,” he said.
The police have yet to issue an official response to the allegations raised by the Mining Marshals commander.
