Mining Marshals Reject Pressure To Reopen Abuja Quarry

The Mining Marshals have rejected pressure to reopen the Stone Rockers quarry in Abuja, insisting that the facility remains a crime scene in an ongoing criminal prosecution before the Federal High Court and cannot be reopened pending the determination of the case.

The position followed a petition by Stone Rockers Nigeria Limited to President Bola Tinubu and other government officials over the 13-month closure of its operations. The company had alleged that the shutdown was unlawful and unsupported by any court order. However, the Commander of the Mining Marshals said the quarry was sealed because it constitutes the locus criminis in a criminal case involving Stone Rockers and its director, Kolawole Olaiya.

According to the Commander, the defendants are standing trial in Charge No. FHC/ABM/VR/338/2026 over alleged illegal mining activities within a mineral title area belonging to Lord’s Career Ventures Nigeria Limited.

He said the prosecution followed investigations into petitions submitted by the complainant over more than a year and referred to the Mining Marshals by the Minister of Solid Minerals Development and the Minister of Interior through the Commandant General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.

He said the defendants were arrested at coordinates identified as longitude 7°17’24″E and latitude 8°52’11″N, which investigators determined fell within Mining Lease No. 000395 ML belonging to Lord’s Career Ventures. He added that a January 23, 2026 letter from the Mining Cadastre Office confirmed that the disputed coordinates were within the complainant’s licensed mining area.

The Commander said substantial documentary evidence had been assembled during the investigation and would be presented before the court. He also questioned attempts to seek administrative intervention while criminal and civil proceedings relating to the dispute remain before the courts.

“The issues raised by the defendants are already the subject of judicial proceedings,” he said, warning against actions capable of undermining or prejudicing the cases.

He further alleged that the defendants were pursuing extrajudicial means to frustrate the criminal proceedings but said such efforts would not deter the Mining Marshals.

“No matter the level of blackmail and harassment deployed by illegal mining and erring industry players, the Mining Marshals will not be deterred from ensuring that the full weight of the law is pressed very tightly against everyone who breaks the laws in the Nigerian mining sector,” he said.

On workers initially arrested during the enforcement operation, the agency said prosecutors had earlier amended the charge to exclude them because they were employees of a disclosed principal and might not have possessed the criminal intent required for prosecution.

The Commander, however, said the decision could be reviewed following subsequent developments, including the participation of some workers in protests over the continued closure.

The Mining Marshals also rejected allegations that the enforcement operation was influenced by financial inducement. The agency said the complainant company had reported losses arising from its inability to commence operations due to the alleged encroachment but had not provided financial support or logistics for the operation that led to the arrests.

The Commander maintained that enforcement decisions were based solely on evidence gathered during investigations and not on the financial status of either party.

He reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to combating illegal mining and protecting legitimate mineral title holders, stressing that the dispute involving Stone Rockers and Lord’s Career Ventures should be resolved through the judicial process.