The Commander, Mining Marshals, Attah John Onoja, has filed a ₦N20 billion defamation lawsuit against a legal practitioner and an online journalist over allegations that he demanded a ₦N50 million bribe to release suspects arrested for illegal mining.
The suit, instituted at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, was filed through Onoja’s lawyer, Adeola Adedipe (SAN), against Terver Douglas Najime and Abel Augustine, an online journalist with SignalNG.
The legal action followed a petition allegedly sent to the Department of State Services (DSS) and subsequently circulated online, alleging that Onoja demanded ₦50 million from Mundasa Global Company Limited to release detained staff arrested at an illegal mining site.
Those arrested were identified as Muhammed Aliyu, 39; Abdulrahman Hashimu, 32; Tahir Muhammed, 43; Awaje Abduljalal, 19; and Kabiru Adamu, 38.
According to earlier reports by The Guardian, the suspects were arrested by the Mining Marshals during an enforcement operation targeting illegal mineral extraction.
Mining Marshals had disclosed that while the case was still ongoing, intelligence reports indicated that the principal suspect and other accomplices, who are currently at large, allegedly attempted to compromise the investigation.
The suspects were said to have approached the lawful mineral title holder whose concession the arrests were made on, in an effort to undermine the case.
Sources said that when attempts to persuade authorities to drop the charges failed, the parties allegedly resorted to blackmail and a smear campaign against Onoja.
The publication, which went viral online, accused Onoja of extortion, abuse of office, and criminal intimidation, causing damage to his reputation.
When contacted, however, the DSS confirmed to Onoja that no such petition was submitted, indicating bad faith and prompting the filing of the defamation suit.
In the suit, Adedipe is asking the court to award ₦20 billion in damages and other reliefs, arguing that the publication severely injured his client’s reputation without any lawful justification.
Adedipe expressed confidence in the court’s ability to deliver justice, stating that his client, “Mr. Onoja will not be intimidated or blackmailed into dropping legitimate charges against those engaging in illegal activities.”
The court has fixed April 17, 2026, for mention of the case.
The Mining Marshals were established by the Federal Ministry of Solid Minerals Development under the leadership of the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, as part of efforts to curb illegal mining across the country.
The special enforcement unit works with security agencies to protect licensed mining sites, enforce mineral regulations, and dismantle illegal mining networks that have long deprived the country of revenue.
Since their inauguration, the Mining Marshals have carried out several enforcement operations across mining hotspots, arresting illegal miners, shutting down unauthorised mining sites and prosecuting offenders.
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