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The Federal Government has inaugurated a 10-member independent investigative committee, headed by retired Deputy Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Mr Jonathan Kure, to investigate the reported deaths of 37 persons in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Niger State.

Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, inaugurated the committee in Abuja on Tuesday, following reports that 37 persons arrested on suspicion of illegal mining died while in the custody of the NSCDC Niger State Command.

The committee has two weeks to complete its assignment and submit its report to the Minister.

Tunji-Ojo said the committee was constituted in line with President Bola Tinubu’s directive for a comprehensive, transparent and unhindered investigation into the incident.

He said the government’s immediate priority was to establish the facts surrounding the deaths and ensure that anyone found culpable would be held accountable.

The Minister said: “No life should be lost in the custody of the State. This is not who we are. This is not what President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, stands for.

“This administration was elected on the promise that every Nigerian life matters, and that security must be provided with humanity, professionalism and respect for human rights.”

Tunji-Ojo disclosed that he had ordered the immediate suspension of the Niger State Commandant of the NSCDC, as well as all officers who were on duty covering arrest, investigation, legal, station and guard duties between 15 and 17 September 2026.

He said the affected officers would remain suspended pending the outcome of the investigation.

According to him, the committee is expected to establish the identities of the deceased; investigate and document the circumstances surrounding their arrest and detention; and determine, through appropriate medical and forensic examination, the cause and manner of death.

The committee is also expected to determine whether negligence, misconduct, complicity or any breach of duty occurred and recommend appropriate disciplinary action, compensation where applicable, as well as measures to prevent a recurrence.

Members of the committee are Kure, chairman; Prof Isa Hayatu Chiroma, SAN, former Director-General of the Nigerian Law School, secretary; retired AIG Hosea Hassan Karma; Prof Olayinka Buhari, Professor of Histopathology and former Chief Medical Director, University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital; a representative of the Minna Emirate Council; a representative of the Niger State Government; Alhaji Liman Sulaiman, National Secretary, Miners Association of Nigeria; lawyer and human rights activist, Mr Deji Adeyanju; Mrs Zainab Suleiman Okino of Blueprint Newspapers; and Dr George Agbakahi, public affairs analyst.

The Minister authorised the committee to co-opt relevant experts, access facilities and request memoranda from members of the public in the course of its assignment.

He also directed the NSCDC leadership and relevant officers to cooperate fully with the investigation, stressing that all records and material evidence connected with the incident must be preserved and made available to the committee.

Tunji-Ojo warned against any attempt to destroy or conceal evidence, intimidate witnesses or obstruct the investigation, saying such actions would be treated as a serious offence.

He assured Nigerians that the government was committed to uncovering the truth, adding that no officer, regardless of position, would be shielded if found culpable.

“To Nigerians, I say this: We owe you the truth. This committee will give you the truth. No officer, no matter how highly placed, will be shielded if found culpable,” he said.

He also appealed to the families of the deceased to remain calm and patient, assuring them that the government would not abandon them.

Speaking after his inauguration, the committee chairman, Kure, described the assignment as a call to national service rather than an appointment.

He said members of the committee were committed to protecting their integrity and would approach the investigation without bias or sentiment.

“This is a privilege and we do not see it as an appointment but a call to national service. Some of us have had the opportunity to serve this nation for 35 years and even in retirement, we are always willing to answer this type of call,” Kure said.

He disclosed that when the minister approached him to lead the committee, he accepted on the condition that his integrity would not be compromised.

“When the Minister called me, I said, Hon Minister, on one condition – you know who I am. And he said that was precisely why he was calling me, and I believe it is so with all members of this committee,” he said.

Kure assured Nigerians that the committee would conduct the investigation with open minds and would not be influenced by sentiments or media reports.

“We shall ensure justice by going to the field with open minds. We want to give this assurance to Nigerians. We are not swayed by sentiments or media hypes that might have been given.

“We will come back with our report and our integrity intact. We must give hope to this country,” he said.

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Former Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, and his successor, Lateef Fagbemi, have offered contrasting accounts of the controversial $200m settlement reached between the Federal Government and Sunrise Power over the Mambilla Hydroelectric Power Project.

While Malami said on Tuesday that the settlement was pursued in Nigeria’s interest and was not motivated by any promise of personal financial benefit, Fagbemi said the protracted dispute and litigation had held the Mambilla project “hostage” and deepened the country’s energy poverty.

Their differing positions followed a September 16 final award by an International Chamber of Commerce arbitration tribunal in Paris, which rejected Sunrise Power and Transmission Company Limited’s claims against Nigeria and ordered the company and its promoter, Leno Adesanya, to reimburse Nigeria $11.82m in legal fees and $414,125 in arbitration costs.

The dispute centres on the Mambilla project in Taraba State, whose development dates back to a 2003 agreement under which Sunrise was to construct a 3,050MW hydropower plant on a build-operate-transfer basis.

Sunrise subsequently commenced arbitration against Nigeria in 2017, seeking about $2.35bn over the project. The dispute later produced a January 2020 settlement under which Nigeria was to pay Sunrise $200m, followed by a March 2020 addendum that introduced a further $200m default provision, potentially raising Nigeria’s exposure to $400m plus interest.

In his reaction on Tuesday, Malami, through his Special Assistant on Media, Mohammed Bello Doka, rejected suggestions that his actions as AGF were undertaken pursuant to a corrupt agreement or in exchange for personal financial benefit.

“Malami rejects any suggestion that his official actions were undertaken pursuant to a corrupt agreement or in exchange for personal financial benefit,” the statement said.

Malami argued that the dispute predated his tenure as AGF, noting that the controversy had existed since 2003 and had passed through several administrations, attorneys-general and ministries.

He said the government’s consideration at the time was whether “an asserted multibillion-dollar exposure, continuing litigation, financing difficulties and delays to the Mambilla project could be brought to an end through a substantially smaller negotiated settlement.”

Malami also pointed out that the $200m settlement was never paid to Sunrise, adding that there was no evidence before the tribunal linking him to any financial benefit from the proposed arrangement.

“One obvious factual question is whether any money or other financial benefit from Sunrise, Adesanya or any connected entity was ever received by Malami pursuant to the alleged arrangement,” he said.

“The settlement money itself was never paid by the federal government to Sunrise.”

The former AGF also acknowledged that former President Muhammadu Buhari did not approve the payment, saying he subsequently instructed government lawyers to resist Sunrise’s attempt to enforce the settlement against Nigeria and preserve the Federal Government’s legal position.

Malami further cautioned against presenting the tribunal’s findings as a criminal conviction, noting that the proceedings were commercial arbitration between parties to a dispute and that he was neither a party to the proceedings nor given an opportunity to state his own side of the story.

Fagbemi, however, said the legal battle had come at a substantial cost to Nigeria, particularly in terms of the delay to the power project.

According to the AGF, the progress of the Mambilla project was “held hostage” by the “relentless litigation and arbitration” instituted by Sunrise.

He said the tribunal had established that the settlement agreement and its addendum were not binding on Nigeria because the former government officials who signed them lacked the requisite authority.

“As a result, the project has been unable to achieve financial close, depriving Nigeria and its people of the enormous economic benefits of 3,050 megawatts of clean, renewable hydroelectric power,” Fagbemi said.

He added that the consequences of the delay included “lost power generation, foregone industrial output, and continued energy poverty.”

The AGF said the tribunal’s decision sent a message that Nigeria “will not be a soft target for predatory litigation and arbitration.”

Fagbemi also commended President Bola Tinubu for maintaining that Nigeria should not succumb to what he described as “fraudulently contrived contractual agreements” and adverse claims arising from them.

The ICC tribunal, in its 616-page award, found the settlement agreements unenforceable, including on grounds of corruption and violation of Nigerian public policy. It also rejected Sunrise’s claim for $400m, while directing the company and Adesanya to bear their own legal expenses.

Malami said he would issue a comprehensive response to the tribunal’s individual findings after reviewing the full award and the underlying records.

Credit: Punch

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The Osun House of Assembly on Tuesday passed a resolution supporting the establishment of state police to complement existing security agencies in combating insecurity in the state.

The resolution followed the National Assembly’s transmission of the proposed constitutional amendment to the State Houses of Assembly for consideration and approval.

The National Assembly passed the constitutional amendment bill seeking to establish state police on June 24.

The motion for the resolution and passage of the proposed state police amendment was moved by the majority leader of the assembly, Babajide Kofoworola, and seconded by Tajudeen Adeyemi, representing Ifelodun State Constituency.

The speaker of the assembly, Adewale Egbedun, directed that the resolution and amendments approved by the assembly be forwarded to the National Assembly for further consideration.

The assembly later dissolved into the Committee of the Whole to consider the Osun State Park Management System Bill, 2026.

The assembly considered corrections and amendments to the bill, and incorporated the agreed changes into the proposed legislation.

(NAN)