Mining Marshals Commander Files N20bn Defamation Suit Against Lawyer, Journalist

The Commander of the Mining Marshals, Attah John Onoja, has instituted a ₦20 billion defamation suit against a legal practitioner, Terver Douglas Najime, and an online journalist with SignalNG.com, Abel Augustine, over allegations of extortion and abuse of office. The suit, filed at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, by Onoja’s […]

The Commander of the Mining Marshals, Attah John Onoja, has instituted a ₦20 billion defamation suit against a legal practitioner, Terver Douglas Najime, and an online journalist with SignalNG.com, Abel Augustine, over allegations of extortion and abuse of office.

The suit, filed at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, by Onoja’s counsel, Adeola Adedipe, SAN, followed the publication of what the claimant described as a malicious petition allegedly submitted to the Department of State Services (DSS) and subsequently circulated online.

In the publication, Onoja was accused of demanding ₦50 million from Mundasa Global Company Limited to facilitate the release of its staff who were earlier arrested at an illegal mining site.

The arrests reportedly took place on December 27, 2025, at Kebi Mangoro within Kuje Area Council of the FCT, following what officials described as credible intelligence on ongoing illegal mining operations in the area.

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Those apprehended during the operation were identified as Muhammed Aliyu, 39; Abdulrahman Hashimu, 32; Tahir Muhammed, 43; Awaje Abduljalal, 19; and Kabiru Adamu, 38.

Sources within the Mining Marshals disclosed that while investigations were ongoing, intelligence reports suggested that the principal suspect and other accomplices still at large allegedly approached the nominal complainant — the lawful mineral title holder on whose concession the arrests were made — in an attempt to compromise and undermine the investigation.

It was further gathered that after alleged attempts to have the matter dropped failed, the parties involved resorted to what officials described as a campaign of blackmail through the controversial publication.

The report, which went viral across several online platforms, accused Onoja of extortion, criminal intimidation and abuse of office, claims his legal team insists are entirely false and damaging to his reputation.

However, when contacted by Onoja, the Department of State Services reportedly confirmed that no such petition had been submitted to the agency, a development that the claimant interpreted as evidence of bad faith and deliberate misinformation.

Consequently, Onoja approached the court seeking ₦20 billion in damages and other reliefs, alleging that the publication gravely injured his reputation without lawful justification.

Sources familiar with the case disclosed that the originating processes have already been served on Najime, while efforts are ongoing to serve the second defendant, Augustine, through substituted means.

Meanwhile, Onoja has indicated that Mundasa Global Company Limited may subsequently be joined as a party in the suit after the defendants file their responses.

The development has generated significant reactions within the mining sector, with several stakeholders calling for accountability and caution against the spread of unverified allegations capable of undermining law enforcement efforts in the fight against illegal mining.

Adedipe, while expressing confidence in the judicial process, maintained that his client would not succumb to intimidation.

“Mr. Onoja will not be intimidated or blackmailed into dropping legitimate charges against those engaging in illegal mining activities,” the senior advocate reportedly stated.