By Our Correspondent
A civil society organisation, the National Civil Society Council of Nigeria (NCSCN), has accused the Commander of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) Mining Marshals, Attah John Onoja, of conducting what it described as a selective and biased investigation into the death of Deputy Superintendent of Corps (DSC) Agada Levi Agada.
The group alleged that the investigation has shifted from identifying those responsible for Agada’s death to focusing on the arrest and prosecution of Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) Abdulmajeed Abisoye Oyewumi.
Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja on Saturday, the Executive Director of the NCSCN, Ambassador Blessing Akinlosotu, called for an independent, transparent and impartial investigation into the matter. He said only a comprehensive inquiry overseen by relevant federal oversight institutions would restore public confidence in the country’s criminal justice system.
The council’s intervention follows allegations by the NSCDC Mining Marshals that CSP Oyewumi aided Chinese nationals standing trial for alleged illegal mining to evade prosecution. According to the Mining Marshals, the suspects repeatedly failed to appear before the Federal High Court in Abuja, prompting Justice M.S. Liman to revoke their bail and issue bench warrants for their arrest.
The Mining Marshals also alleged that Oyewumi, alongside other police officers, facilitated the escape of two suspects through the Nigeria-Cameroon border and was making arrangements for another defendant to flee before he was traced to an apartment in Abuja.
Commander Attah John Onoja further accused the police officer of obstructing justice, claiming investigators recovered live ammunition, suspected rare minerals, bank statements and electronic devices from the residence where Oyewumi allegedly lived with the Chinese defendants.
However, the NCSCN questioned the direction of the investigation, insisting that the circumstances surrounding Agada’s death should remain the primary focus.
“Our intervention is neither to defend nor indict any individual or institution. Rather, it is to ensure that investigations are conducted professionally, fairly, transparently and strictly in accordance with the Constitution and the rule of law,” Akinlosotu said.
The council stated that information available to it indicated that Agada died during an operation at a mining site and that an autopsy reportedly revealed gunshot wounds to his chest and abdomen. It also referred to claims that the ammunition allegedly used in the shooting may have originated from the NSCDC armoury, while noting that it had not independently verified the allegation.
According to the council, the allegations are too serious to ignore and require a thorough, independent investigation capable of inspiring public confidence, whether eventually confirmed or disproved.
The NCSCN expressed concern that attention appeared to have shifted away from investigating Agada’s death to pursuing allegations against Oyewumi.
“The death of Officer Agada is the central issue. Any investigation into other persons, no matter how significant, must not replace or overshadow the search for those responsible for his death,” the council stated.
The organisation also raised concerns over the search conducted at Oyewumi’s residence by the NSCDC Mining Marshals.
According to the council, available information suggested that the officers were specifically searching for the police case file relating to the investigation, along with evidence that could expose any alleged attempt to conceal the circumstances surrounding Agada’s death.
It alleged that the officers searched extensively throughout the residence, including breaking the ceiling, in an effort to locate documents or other evidence they believed had been hidden.
The council further claimed that the officers seized Oyewumi’s mobile phone during the operation.
It alleged that the device contained recorded conversations and confessional materials from individuals said to have linked certain persons to an alleged cover-up surrounding the investigation into Agada’s death.
The NCSCN urged investigators to determine whether constitutional and statutory procedures were followed during the search and seizure, and whether any electronic evidence was lawfully handled.
The council also questioned the allegations that Oyewumi aided illegal miners, saying information available to it suggested that the Chinese nationals at the centre of the controversy possessed valid mining licences issued by the appropriate government authorities.
According to the council, the legal status of the mining operations should be established through verified records from the relevant regulatory agencies, stressing that documentary evidence, rather than allegations, should guide any investigation.
The NCSCN also demanded an update from the Mining Marshals on the investigation into Agada’s death.It asked whether those directly responsible had been identified, whether arrests had been made and whether the investigation had progressed to prosecution.
The council also sought clarification on whether autopsy findings, ballistic reports and other forensic analyses had been completed and forwarded to prosecuting authorities.
It further requested details of the evidence supporting the allegations against Oyewumi, asking whether the claims were backed by documentary records, electronic communications, witness statements, forensic findings or other verifiable evidence.
The NCSCN also called for an investigation into allegations that officials of the NSCDC Mining Marshals prevented other security agencies, including the Nigeria Police Force, from accessing mining sites, thereby limiting independent oversight.
In addition, it referred to allegations that a senior Mining Marshal led a midnight operation at the residence of a Chief Superintendent of Police during which property was allegedly damaged and valuables taken. It also sought clarification over reports that the same officer allegedly failed to honour an invitation from the Nigeria Police Force.
The council urged all security agencies to avoid institutional rivalry that could undermine public confidence in the justice system.
It called for an independent review of the entire matter under the supervision of the appropriate federal oversight institutions to examine the circumstances surrounding Agada’s death, subsequent investigative actions, and any allegations of obstruction, misconduct, abuse of process or other unlawful conduct wherever the evidence may lead.
The NCSCN maintained that anyone found culpable should be held accountable regardless of rank or agency, while emphasising that every accused person is entitled to a fair hearing and the constitutional presumption of innocence until proven guilty by a court of competent jurisdiction.
