Mining Marshals Commander sues Lagos newspaper for defamation, seeks ₦2bn compensation

The Commander of the Mining Marshals, Mr Attah John Onoja has dragged a Lagos based newspaper company before a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, over alleged defamation of his reputation and professional integrity in a publication by the media outfit.

In a suit with number GWD/CV/2025, the aggrieved Mining Marshal is praying for an order of the court to compel the newspaper company to pay him two billion naira, N2bn as compensation for loses he suffered as a result of the alleged defamatory publication against him

In the suit filed by a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, Adeola Adedipe, on his behalf, the Mining Marshal averred that the publication was false, injurious, malicious and unjustifiable against him and his agency.

The offending publication was said to have been published on the official website of the affected newspaper on June 23, 2025 and titled “Community Alleges Involvement of Mining Marshals in Illegal Mining”.

The plaintiff contended that the report defamed his character and called to question the integrity of the Mining Marshals, a newly established security outfit tasked with combating illegal mining by the federal government of Nigeria.

In the Writ of Summons already served on the newspaper, Onoja is asking the court to grant an order against the defendant to pay him the sum of ₦2,000,000,000 (Two Billion Naira) as compensation for the reputational damage caused by the publication, which he insisted was “broadcast to the entire world without verification or balance.”

He, among others, claimed that the publication was not only a misrepresentation of facts but a direct assault on his character and the painstaking efforts of the Mining Marshals to cleanse Nigeria’s mineral sector of the economy.

The plaintiff also claimed that there is a need to bringing journalism to account, so as to discourage the ugly practice of publishing unverified information to mislead the public and well-meaning Nigerians.

The Mining Marshals Commander further stressed that all activities of the Task Force are transparent, open to public scrutiny and subject to the rule of law contrary to the allegations against them.

Plaintiff questioned the rationale behind the decision of the affected newspaper company to publish the grievous allegations against him without contacting him or the agency for clarifications.

“This kind of unprofessional journalism that fails to observe the fundamental principles of fairness, accuracy and balance not only undermines public trust but poses a direct threat to ongoing national reforms,” he said.

Onoja emphasized that the Mining Marshals remain fully aligned with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, as implemented under the leadership of the Minister of Solid Minerals Development.

He reiterated that the corps will not be deterred by “sponsored attacks or blackmail orchestrated by elements sympathetic to illegal mining networks.”

“The Mining Marshals will not be distracted. We are on a mission to sanitize Nigeria’s mining corridors and restore sanity to this strategic sector. No amount of smear campaigns will deter that resolve,” Onoja declared.

The Writ of Simmons sighted by our correspondent read “You are hereby commanded that within 7 days of service of this Writ on you, inclusive of the date of such service, you do cause an appearance to be entered for you in an action at the suit of the Claimnant.

” Take notice that in default of your doing so, the Claimnant may proceed and judgment may be given in your absence.

“Take notice also, that parties shall maintain status quo.

However, at the time of this report, it could not be ascertained if the affected newspaper company has filed its defense to issues raised against it in the defamation suit or intends to retract the alleged offending publication.
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Meanwhile, no date has yet been fixed for hearing of the suit by the Chief Judge of the FCT Court, Justice Hussain Baba Yusuf.

Mining Marshals Commander sues Lagos newspaper for defamation, seeks ₦2bn compensation