₦airaland Forum

The House of Representatives on Wednesday resolved to investigate allegations of financial misconduct, operational irregularities and the legal status of the Mining Marshals, including claims that more than N2bn was traced to the bank account of one of the unit’s State Commanders.

The decision followed the adoption of a motion sponsored by Mr Abdulmaleek Danga, who raised concerns over the activities of the specialised security outfit established to combat illegal mining across the country. Leading the debate, Danga recalled that the Federal Ministry of Solid Minerals Development, in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Interior, inaugurated the Mining Marshals on March 21, 2024.

The unit comprises over 2,200 personnel drawn from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and was established under the provisions of Section 3 of the NSCDC Act and the Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act, 2007. He said the Marshals were created to secure mining sites, combat illegal mining, curb banditry in mineral-producing communities and protect government revenue from the solid minerals sector.

However, the lawmaker alleged that the unit had deviated from its core mandate. “The House is concerned by reports indicating a deviation from this mandate, characterised by allegations that the Mining Marshals lack deep operational knowledge of the mining sector, resulting in the wrongful apprehension and harassment of legitimate mineral title holders while misrepresenting these actions to the public as successful crackdowns on illegal operators,” Danga said.

He further drew the attention of the House to what he described as “grave allegations of financial impropriety” within the unit. “The House is also concerned by grave allegations of financial impropriety within the unit, specifically the reported discovery of over N2bn in the bank account of a State Commander of the Mining Marshals,” he said.
According to Danga, rather than subjecting the officer to prosecution or disciplinary proceedings, the commander was allegedly redeployed, a development he said had fuelled public suspicion of compromise within the unit.

“The House is worried that instead of a formal judicial inquiry, prosecution, or internal disciplinary action, the said Commander was merely redeployed, fuelling allegations that the Marshals are being compromised by affluent illegal mining syndicates,” he stated.

The lawmaker also questioned the transparency of the unit’s finances, citing the procurement of operational vehicles without what he described as a clearly identifiable legislative appropriation or budgetary provision. “The House is disturbed by the lack of fiscal transparency surrounding the unit, notably the recent procurement and allocation of operational vehicles to the Marshals without a clear record of legislative appropriation or budgetary allocation from the parent agency, thereby exposing the unit to extrabudgetary expenditure,” he said.

He warned that the alleged operational and financial lapses could have far-reaching implications for Nigeria’s economy. “The House is convinced that these operational and financial anomalies directly undermine Nigeria’s economic interests, resulting in mineral revenue leakages, heightened insecurity, and a deterioration of investor confidence in the solid minerals sector,” Danga added. Following the adoption of the motion, the House mandated its Committee on Solid Minerals Development to undertake a comprehensive investigation into the operations of the Mining Marshals nationwide. The committee is expected to determine whether the unit is operating within its legal mandate, investigate allegations of corruption, including the reported N2bn linked to a former State Commander and any similar cases across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, and examine the source of funding for the procurement of operational vehicles and other expenditures. Lawmakers also directed the panel to scrutinise the legal framework establishing the unit, its organisational structure and compliance with existing laws, with a view to recommending an internationally recognised and legally compliant security model for protecting mining assets.

The committee was given four weeks to conclude its investigation and report back to the House for further legislative action. The Mining Marshals were launched in March 2024 by the Federal Government as a specialised security outfit to strengthen the fight against illegal mining, a longstanding challenge that has deprived Nigeria of substantial revenue, fuelled environmental degradation and contributed to insecurity in several mineral-rich communities.

Illegal mining has remained a major concern in states such as Zamfara, Niger, Nasarawa, Plateau and Kaduna, where criminal networks have been accused of exploiting the country’s mineral resources while evading regulatory oversight and tax obligations. The Federal Government has repeatedly identified the solid minerals sector as a key component of its strategy to diversify the economy away from dependence on oil revenues.

Source https://punchng.com/reps-probe-n2bn-linked-to-mining-marshals-commander-funding-of-special-unit/

first time i dey hear of this corps. dem no touch am too

Omo....with d kind money politicians just d squander, una sure say hope still dey for common man?.....it is time to make politics less interesting abeg and it is time to sign d death penalty for corruption in Nigeria too

saintkel:
Omo....with d kind money politicians just d squander, una sure say hope still dey for common man?.....it is time to make politics less interesting abeg and it is time to sign d death penalty for corruption in Nigeria too

They are hardly shielded these days

saintkel:
Omo....with d kind money politicians just d squander, una sure say hope still dey for common man?.....it is time to make politics less interesting abeg and it is time to sign d death penalty for corruption in Nigeria too

Who go pass the law bikonu?

The thieves wey dey make them

Or the ones wey dey rubber stamp corrupt practices?

alanto:
They are hardly shielded these days

Sorry, please clarify exactly "who is HARDLY shielded?" 🧐

Na why all this things dey happen

All about resources

Noted.

“The House is worried that instead of a formal judicial inquiry, prosecution, or internal disciplinary action, the said Commander was merely redeployed, fuelling allegations that the Marshals are being compromised by affluent illegal mining syndicates,” he stated.

he was busy refilling his own bullion van while agbero chairman bullion vans are still empty .

DomPerignon has deactivated his CounterIgbolies account and blocked me with his FSBoperator one too because I found out the reason he attacks igbos 24/7 is because he sells Fanta and Pepsi but his Igbo neighbour outsells him every time 🥺

So anytime you encounter him or his various monikers 'ranting' . . . Just laugh and ask him why he is running from me 😏

ogolemati:
he was busy refilling his own bullion van while agbero chairman bullion vans is still empty .

Hehehe 🤭

No be life these APC gang of goons dey live ooooo 😁

alanto:
They are hardly shielded these days

Anything Gbola Tilumbu supporter talk for here dey always be rubbish.

Our political elites seems to be idiotic in the Grecian context. It's funny sha

Politicians steal shamelessly what they can't even finish spending in their miserable life with their rotten family.... Shame to the government that is always rewarding kleptomaniacs with political post....

I don't admire or respect all Nigerian politicians. I can't see Tinubu or Atiku or Obi now and would be jumping in euphoria of seeing a big man. I wouldn't even smile, will look at you like an ordinary man you are.

saintkel:
Omo....with d kind money politicians just d squander, una sure say hope still dey for common man?.....it is time to make politics less interesting abeg and it is time to sign d death penalty for corruption in Nigeria too

The commander no get name?

Dan Burob er what do you have to say about this

Corruption is a Nigeria thing.

Chinese nationals and some barely educated gold miners from Zamfara will be laughing at this thread.

This NSCDC died possibly because he wanted to spend N2bn alone. HOR members wondering how can someone can have this much money.

Meanwhile the same house voted against investigating fake agency 😂😂😂. We are the enabler shaa until we stop keypad warrior and face them on the street.

Will this looting ever reduce

Just imagine what this kind of money would do to the development of the country

the mining profit is for them. our oil os for is all

That's the solution. Street mandate will solve so many things faster than even the court ....

kimjessey2019:
Meanwhile the same house voted against investigating fake agency 😂😂😂. We are the enabler shaa until we stop keypad warrior and face them on the street.

Tinubu will be the end of Nigeria as we know ot

E be like Billion no the the amount I dey think say e be.


Because billions na water for this country

Nawa oooo this country ehhh.
When we tell people it's illegal mining they is fuelling insecurities in Nigeria they say it's a lie.

ANYTHING THAT IS CREATED IN NIGERIA WILL ALWASS BE MISUSED

Solutions to any problem in Nigeria create another.

Were just dey chop silently.

frog12:
Source https://punchng.com/reps-probe-n2bn-linked-to-mining-marshals-commander-funding-of-special-unit/

There’s money in the country