A fresh controversy has emerged between the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) following the death of a senior NSCDC officer during an operation in Nasarawa State and conflicting claims over the discovery of more than ₦2 billion in a suspect’s bank account.
The dispute centres on the death of Deputy Superintendent of Corps (DSC) Agada Levi Agada, a Mining Marshals officer and cleric, whose death prompted a police investigation after a petition was submitted by members of his family.
Following the investigation, the police arrested three officers attached to the NSCDC Mining Marshals unit, identified as Simeon Yakubu Anyebe, Ibrahim Ayefu and Assistant Superintendent of Corps (ASC) Iwodi Obochi.
According to the police, preliminary findings linked the suspects to circumstances surrounding the officer’s death, while financial investigations allegedly uncovered suspicious transactions involving one of the officers.
The police claimed that more than ₦2 billion was traced to a Zenith Bank account allegedly belonging to Sergeant Labaran, one of the individuals under investigation. Investigators further alleged that transfers were made from the account to other suspects connected with the case.
The financial allegations, however, have been strongly disputed by the leadership of the NSCDC Mining Marshals.
Reacting to the claims, Commander of the Mining Marshals, John Onoja, described the police report as misleading and inaccurate.
Onoja maintained that records obtained from the officer’s bank account showed total credits of only ₦760,129 and total debits of ₦760,457 within the past year, a figure he said completely contradicted the police allegation of over ₦2 billion passing through the account.
He argued that the financial claims were fabricated and called for an independent investigation into the matter.
The NSCDC commander also urged the Department of State Services (DSS) to intervene and assume responsibility for the investigation in order to guarantee neutrality and public confidence in the outcome.
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