•Accuse police of subversion

The Commander of the Mining Marshals of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), John Onoja, has petitioned the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) over the investigation into the death of a Deputy Superintendent of the corps, Agada Levi.

The commander urged the police authorities to transfer the investigation to the Department of State Services (DSS) to ensure an impartial and unbiased scrutiny.

Onoja’s demand for the secret police intervention followed a controversial police report linking one police officer to over N2 billion in suspicious transactions following Levi’s death.

Rejecting the report, the Mining Marshals’ boss alleged that the police investigation had been compromised by corrupt elements working hand-in-hand with foreign illegal mining cartels to discredit the agency.

“Hence, my letter to the IGP requesting that the matter be transferred to the DSS for an impartial review and handling,” Onoja stated. “The modest thing to do was for the police to transfer the case.”

The inter-agency friction exploded at the weekend following a viral online publication titled: “Nigeria Police Arrest Three NSCDC Officers Over Colleague’s Death, Trace Over N2b To Suspect’s Bank Account.”

Dismissing the claims as “false and misleading,” Onoja provided a breakdown of the suspect’s bank statements, showing that the account in question actually held less than N1 million — entirely consisting of standard civil service salaries.

“The Zenith Bank account number 1008392780 belonging to Jibrin Labaran shows a total debit of N760,457.25 and a total credit of N760,129.85 in the last year, representing his emoluments as an officer, contrary to the N2 billion claim being circulated,” Onoja said.

By requesting for the DSS to take over the investigation, Onoja said he hoped that the secret police would expose what he called a deeply entrenched conspiracy to frustrate federal enforcement against illegal mining.

He pointedly accused Team N of the Force Intelligence Department (FID) of consistently sabotaging lawful operations in Nasarawa State.

According to the commander, Chinese illegal miners whose sites were recently dismantled are bankrolling the police squad to manufacture blackmail against the marshals.

“We have it on good authority that the Chinese men, whose illegal mining site was shut down in Nasarawa State, are the ones bankrolling a Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) for this blackmail,” the Commander alleged.

Onoja also alleged that the police team’s interference had even attempted to arrest the Mining Marshals’ lead prosecution counsel in his private residence while being accompanied by Chinese nationals — an action only thwarted by vigilant estate security guards.

Acknowledging that Levi tragically died in the line of duty, the commander maintained that the inner management team did not know any foul play from within, further justifying the need for an independent DSS enquiry.

“We are not denying that Agada Levi died in the line of duty, sadly. But none of the management team’s members knows anything about his death,” he stated. “The CSP is only trying to use the occasion to achieve his obvious unfinished objectives against the mining marshals.”

Reassuring the public that his unit remained committed to its mandate, Onoja urged Nigerians to discountenance the media campaign against his officers while the DSS takes over the review of the case. (The Nation)

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