The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has cleared the Commander of its Mining Marshals unit, Assistant Commandant of Corps (ACC) John Onoja Attah, of allegations linking him to the diversion of N2 billion and an alleged cover-up surrounding the death of an operative, Deputy Superintendent of Corps (DSC) Levi Agada, during an operation at a mining site.
The clearance came as the Corps announced disciplinary measures against 79 personnel, including the dismissal of two Mining Marshals operatives for unlawfully supplying firearms to illegal miners.
The Commandant-General, Ahmed Audi, represented by the Corps’ spokesperson, Babawale Afolabi, disclosed this on Wednesday.
He said investigations carried out by the Corps found no evidence implicating Onoja or the management of the Mining Marshals unit.
Audi said comprehensive investigations had cleared Onoja, the lead prosecutor, and other members of the management team of any alleged complicity in the allegations that had trailed the unit.
“Allegations suggesting otherwise were found to be false and without factual basis,” he said.
The clarification comes months after allegations circulated linking the Mining Marshals commander and members of his team to the controversial death of the officer during an operation in Nasarawa State, as well as claims of a N2 billion diversion.
Onoja had consistently rejected the allegations, describing them as false and part of a coordinated campaign to discredit the Mining Marshals and frustrate the unit’s operations against illegal mining syndicates.
The NSCDC also announced sanctions against 79 personnel of the Corps for various acts of misconduct.
Audi disclosed that two members of the Mining Marshals unit were dismissed and recommended for prosecution for unlawfully supplying firearms to illegal miners.
“Consequently, both personnel have been dismissed from the service and recommended for prosecution in accordance with the law,” Audi said.
However, DAILY POST reports that the police had earlier fingered Onoja in connection with the death of Agada.
Agada’s death: NSCDC sacks two operatives, clears mining commander