Mining Marshals Defend Stone Rockers Quarry Shutdown, Say Site Remains Crime Scene

By Aviashima Toom, Abuja

The Mining Marshals have defended the continued closure of the Stone Rockers Nigeria Limited quarry in Abuja, saying the facility remains a crime scene in an ongoing criminal case before the Federal High Court.

The agency’s position followed a recent petition by Stone Rockers to President Bola Tinubu and other senior government officials over the 13-month shutdown of its quarry operations.

The company had alleged that its operations were unlawfully shut down without a valid court order, prompting renewed public attention to the dispute.

However, the Commander of the Mining Marshals dismissed the allegation, explaining that the quarry was not sealed as an administrative sanction but because it constitutes the locus criminis, or scene of the alleged crime, in a criminal prosecution currently before the court.

According to the Commander, Stone Rockers Nigeria Limited and its director, Mr Kolawole Olaiya, are standing trial in Charge No. FHC/ABM/CR/338/2026 over alleged illegal mining activities within a mineral title area belonging to Lord’s Career Ventures Nigeria Limited.

He said the case followed extensive investigations initiated after a series of petitions submitted by the complainant company over a period of more than one year.

The petitions, he explained, were referred by the Minister of Solid Minerals Development and the Minister of Interior to the Mining Marshals through the Commandant General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps for investigation and possible prosecution.

Disputed mining coordinates

The Commander said investigators arrested the defendants at coordinates longitude 7°17'24"E and latitude 8°52'11"N, which the Mining Marshals said fall within Mining Lease No. 000395 ML, held by Lord’s Career Ventures Nigeria Limited.

He added that the agency relied, among other evidence, on a letter dated January 23, 2026, from the Mining Cadastre Office, which reportedly confirmed that the disputed coordinates fall within the complainant’s licensed mining area.

The agency also said correspondence allegedly written by a member of the defence team, Mohammed Olanrewaju Jibril, during the investigation would form part of the evidence to be presented before the court.

According to the Commander, the letter, dated August 12, 2025, was allegedly written on the instructions of the defendants and contained statements the prosecution considers relevant to the case.

‘Matter is already before the court’

The Commander urged all parties to allow the courts to determine the issues in dispute, warning against actions that could undermine or prejudice the ongoing proceedings.

“The issues raised by the defendants are already the subject of judicial proceedings.”

He further alleged that the defendants had resorted to “every extrajudicial means” to frustrate the criminal proceedings.

He said the latest petition to the President was part of an alleged broader attempt to influence public opinion after what he described as unsuccessful efforts to harass him through petitions to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission.

The Commander vowed that the Mining Marshals would continue to enforce mining laws despite what he described as pressure from industry players.

“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.”

On the fate of workers who were initially arrested in connection with the matter, the agency said prosecutors had previously amended the charge to remove them from the case.

However, the Mining Marshals said recent developments, including the participation of some workers in protests over the continued closure of the quarry, had prompted a review of their status.

According to the agency, prosecutors have been directed to consider relisting any affected workers if further evidence establishes their involvement in the alleged offences.

The Mining Marshals also rejected allegations that the enforcement action was motivated by financial inducement.

The agency said its decisions were based solely on evidence gathered during the investigation and the need to enforce applicable mining laws.

The dispute between Stone Rockers Nigeria Limited and Lord’s Career Ventures Nigeria Limited has resulted in multiple legal proceedings and competing claims from both sides.

While Stone Rockers maintains that the prolonged closure of its quarry is unlawful and unsupported by a valid court order, the Mining Marshals insist that the site remains central to a criminal case and should remain closed pending the determination of the matter by the court.