The Commander, Mining Marshals of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), John Onoja, Monday, rejected a police report linking one of his officers to over N2 billion suspicious transactions following the death of a mining marshal operative.
Onoja also alleged that foreign nationals involved in illegal mining activities were behind what he described as ‘sustained attacks’ aimed at discrediting the Marshals.
In a statement Monday in response to a viral publication titled, “Nigeria Police Arrest 3 NSCDC Officers over colleague’s Death, Traced over N2 billion to Suspect’s Bank Account”, Onoja described the report as false and misleading.
He said the account allegedly linked to the investigation recorded transactions amounting to less than N1 million within the last year.
“The Zenith Bank account number 1008392780 of Jibrin Labaran from the statement of account of last year contains a total debit of N760,457.25 and total credit of ₦760,129.85, being his emolument as an officer, as against a N2 billion claim in the purported police investigation report that was published online,” he said.
Onoja accused officers of Team N, Force Intelligence Department (FID) led by Abdulmajeed Abisoye Oyewumi of repeatedly interfering with lawful Mining Marshals’ operations in Nasarawa state.
“There is a history of consistent blackmail by Team N of the Force Intelligence Department of the Nigeria Police Force headed by one CSP Abdulmajeed Abisoye Oyewumi over one year now on the same site as he has consistently disrupted Mining Marshals’ lawful operations on the site,” he said.
He alleged that the same police team had previously arrested some Mining Marshals operatives and attempted to undermine ongoing prosecutions involving suspected illegal miners.
Onoja said he had written to the Inspector-General of Police requesting that the investigation into the death of Agada Levi, a Deputy Superintendent of Corps attached to the Mining Marshals be transferred to the Department of State Services (DSS).