By our correspondent

In a bid to avoid a repeat of the death of 37 illegal Miners in Niger state at the detention custody of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) the Corps’ Director of Legal Services, Aminu Kayode Alilu has warned its personnel in Cross River State against violating citizens’ fundamental rights, stressing that unlawful arrests, improper interrogations and illegal detention could jeopardise prosecutions and expose the Corps to litigation.

The warning was issued at the weekend in Cross River State during a two-day training on criminal justice administration and human rights compliance organised for officers of the state command at its headquarters in Calabar.

The training was facilitated by the Corps’ Director of Legal Services, Aminu Kayode Alilu, who urged personnel to conduct security operations in accordance with established laws and procedures.

“Effective security operations must be conducted within the confines of the law,” he said.

Alilu also emphasised the importance of accountability and professionalism, maintaining that “respect for human dignity” was a fundamental requirement for officers carrying out law enforcement duties.

The workshop brought together Area Commanders, Divisional Officers, intelligence and investigation operatives, legal officers, station officers, cell guards, Anti-Corruption personnel, Critical National Asset and Infrastructure operatives and tactical commanders.

Participants were trained on the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015, and other legal provisions governing investigations, arrests, suspect management and prosecution.

The sessions were intended to strengthen officers’ understanding of the legal requirements guiding their daily operations.

The legal services director warned that violations of due process during arrest, interrogation and detention could weaken cases against suspects.

Such practices, he said, could also result in legal proceedings against the Corps and undermine public confidence in law enforcement.

The Cross River State Commandant, Okarazu Chima, commended the Commandant General, Prof. Ahmed Abubakar Audi, for supporting the training and prioritising legal capacity development within the organisation.

Chima described the exercise as necessary for improving operational performance and directed officers to apply the lessons learned.

He warned that the command would no longer tolerate avoidable legal errors capable of causing litigation or infringing on citizens’ rights.

“The command will no longer tolerate avoidable legal errors capable of causing litigation or infringing on citizens’ rights.” Chima said.

The command said the programme had reinforced the need for lawful enforcement, accountability and respect for human rights.

According to the Command, “The training is necessary for improving operational performance, and officers must apply the lessons learned in the discharge of their duties.”

The training ended with interactive sessions, practical case studies and question-and-answer discussions on operational challenges.

By Our Correspondent

A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Dr James Ogwu Onoja has warned social media commentators and bloggers to stop dishing out false narratives in a $2.1 million civil suit instituted against Barrister Jordan Nyesom Wike by one Safwan Garba in respect of Abuja land matter.

The lawyer warned that any commentator and blogger who continued the false narration in respect of court proceedings in the matter, would be susceptible to both criminal and civil actions for malicious falsehood, cyberbullying, slander and libel.

The reaction of Onoja SAN, lead counsel to Jordan Nyesom Wike was provoked by an interview granted by I. G Wuru, a lawyer to Safwan Garba, where he reportedly insinuated that Jordan Nyesom Wike admitted receiving the disputed $2.1 million from the plaintiff.

Social media commentators, especially Martins Vincent Otse known as Very Darkman (VDM) and bloggers were said to have been feasting on the falsehood, spreading it to unsuspecting members of the public.

In a statement on Friday in Abuja, Ogwu Onoja SAN, in setting the record straight, explained that his client (Jordan Nyesom Wike) never at any time admitted receiving any money from Safwan Garba as alleged by lawyer Wuru.

He warned that those who have made publications, conclusions, insinuations and casted aspersions that have drawn attention subject of the court case should take down that such publications, statements and conclusions as same are palpably unfounded

The statement read: “Our attention has been drawn to stories on series of blogs, comments and conclusions on social media by mischief makers and promoters of falsehood, attributed to the media briefing and interview granted by I.G. Waru, Esq., the lawyer to Safwan Garba, in respect of the suit he instituted against Jordan Wike presently pending at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja in Suit No: FCT/HC/CV/008/2026 and the court proceedings in relation thereto.

‘In the unverified reports, blog posts and commentaries as stated above, it was aired most maliciously that Jordan Wike admitted receiving $2.1 million for Abuja property. This particular story circulated by Sahara Reporters and Very Darkman (VDM) is most reprehensible.

“It is also sad that other media platforms such as Port Harcourt Specials, The Cable, Ogoni Times, Magic FM Aba, Information Nigeria, Kalabari TV, Sorosoye Gossip, Edo Updates and many more, on a daily basis continue to peddle this falsehood thereby tarnishing the reputation and image of Jordan Wike.

“This haze of lies and malicious fabrication appears to be an orchestrated media campaign intended to whip up sentiments, compromise the mind of the public and intimidate the judge.

“For the records, Jordan Wike in his defence before the court stated in an unequivocal terms that he has never met Safwan Garba G.Y. or any of his agents at any time. He maintained this line of defence while giving evidence in court on the 28th and 30th September, 2026.

“One therefore wonders why a lawyer would grant interviews to misrepresent what transpired in stop false narrative weeks after the court proceedings.

“It is baffling that this interview by I.G. Waru was granted this week at the Federal High Court, Abuja close to a month of the court proceedings at the FCT High Court and is clearly the source of defamatory comments, unfounded claims and unproven conclusions being made on social media by ignorant members of the public.

“As lawyers to Mr. Jordan Wike, we hitherto refrained from making any statement since the matter is subjudice. However, after taking a critical look at the daily name calling of this young man and the barrage of lies and misrepresentation by gullible people who believe anything without verifying the facts, it therefore becomes most cogent and imperative to clear the air on these poignant issues.

“Safwan Garba G.Y, instituted this action in court but it appears he is not contented with letting the court determine the matter. It is our opinion that in view of the pending proceedings in court, it behoves the lawyers representing both parties to maintain proper professional posture rather than resort to underhand measures using the media to craft false narratives intended to paint a different picture from what has so far transpired in court in order to mislead the public.

“One key point to note is that, contrary to the news making the rounds regarding the petition to the EFCC, we as lawyers to Jordan Nyesom-Wike exhibited the said letter to unearth the inconsistencies in the stories and claims of Safwan Garba G.Y and his lawyers.

“This is because Safwan Garba G.Y kept that vital documents away from the court by not referring to same in his pleadings. He also failed to follow up with the EFCC having realized that the lies he told in the said letter were too conspicuous even for the blind to see.

“In view of the above, we urge the general public to disregard the vicious and barefaced lies of Safwan Garba G.Y. and flagrant misrepresentation of his lawyer, I.G. Waru, Esq. whose conduct is apart from being contemptuous is copiously unethical.

“Any member of the public, bloggers or media houses who continue to propagate this blatant falsehood against the person of Jordan Nyesom-Wike will be susceptible to both criminal and civil actions for malicious falsehood, cyberbullying, slander and libel.

“Those who have made publications, conclusions, insinuations and casted aspersions that have drawn attention subject of this piece should take down with alacrity such publications, statements and conclusions as same are palpably unfounded.

“The general public is to take note and be guided accordingly.”

By Uthman Baba -Naseer,Minna

The Commissioner for Homeland Security in Niger State Mr. Maurice Bello Magaji has alleged that the operatives of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) are going beyond their official responsibility in their role of engagement.

He told the Justice Mohammed Mohammed Judicial Commission of Inquiry investigating the death of 37 suspected illegal miners in the custody of NSCDC that their mode of official conduct is uncivil and they should be more professional in the discharge of their duty.

According to the Commissioner, the men of the NSCDC needed more orientation in their mode of operation as security outfit stating that the revelations from the survivors of the NSCDC causality to “ our committee is so embarrassing and they needed more orientations in their official conducts”

“ My Lord. The information we received from the survivors in our committee as regards to the manner and the way the NSCDC carried out their operations could best be described as unprofessional and they need to be called to order” Maurice Magaji told the Commission.

He told the Commission that the excess of the NSCDC in their operational conduct does not portray the operatives of the NSCDC as security outfit warning that they should operate within the ambit of the law that established them.

“ The NSCDC was established under an enabling Act. But they operate outside the Act and the law establishing them. They should operate in accordance with the Act that established them. Their excesses in their operational conduct is unprofessional” he added.

Maurice Magaji who testified as the Commissioner for Home Security and the secretary Niger State committee of Investigation on the matter informed the commission the response of their committee to the incident and the stage of their investigation, challenging the mode of arrest and operation of the civil defence corps in the state.

He confirmed that on the 17th,of September,2026 he received a phone call from the suspended Commandant of the NSCDC in Niger State,Siayaka Zubeiru Aniriviye on the death of the 37 suspected illegal miners in the custody of the Command.

He stated that upon the receipt of the report,” I put a call to my boss,the governor, on the report I got from the suspended Commandant of the NSCDC.

“ The governor then directed that their bodies should be evacuated to the hospital,the suspended Commandant then told me that he needed some logistics to transport them to the hospital.

“ I then contacted my permanent secretary and raised some funds for transporting them to the hospital, “ the Commissioner told the Commission.

Head of civil defence operations Deputy Commander of Corps John Abraham narrated to Justice Mohammed Mohammed nine member commission of inquiry how they carried out the operation which led to the arrest of the 69 miners on the directives of the suspended commandant of the Corp Siaka Subairu Aniviye.

He maintained that after the arrest they handed over the suspects to the department of intelligence and investigation for further action.

Area Commander Mokwa Assistant commander of Corp Adebayo Tajuddeen and ASC Mamman Ibrahim testified in relation to the arrest, investigation and detention of Emmanuel Emeka who was detained six days and died alongside the suspected illegal miners.

They testified how they illegally arrested the boy, collected money for his detention and court warrant and as well clarified on the whereabouts of 1.4 Million Naira allegedly recovered from the 12 Million Naira in question.

However Wilfred Ugwu, the employer of late Emmanuel who reported him to the civil defence also
testified on their relationship with Emmanuel and how he accused Emmanuel of siphoning his business money to the tune of 12 Million Naira.