The Mining Marshals have arrested a Chief Superintendent of Police, Abdulmajeed Abisoye Oyewumi, over allegations that he helped Chinese nationals standing trial for alleged illegal mining offences in Nasarawa State to evade justice.
The agency also disclosed that criminal charges have been filed against the police officer and other suspects accused of obstructing the ongoing prosecution before the Federal High Court in Abuja.
The Chinese defendants are standing trial in Charge No. FHC/ABJ/CR/131/2025 before Justice M. S. Liman of the Federal High Court, Abuja Judicial Division.
According to a statement issued by the Mining Marshals, the arrest followed Monday’s proceedings in court, where the prosecution applied for the revocation of the defendants’ bail and requested bench warrants after the accused persons failed to appear in court.
Counsel from the law firm of Kolawole Olowookere, SAN, representing the defendants, informed the court that his clients were involved in an accident and could not attend proceedings. The Mining Marshals, however, said this was the fourth time the defendants had failed to appear in court, adding that no medical report or documentation from the Federal Road Safety Corps was presented to support the claim.
Justice Liman consequently revoked the bail earlier granted to the first, second and third defendants and issued bench warrants for their arrest.
The Mining Marshals alleged that intelligence later revealed that CSP Oyewumi and other police officers had facilitated the escape of the second and third defendants through the Nigeria-Cameroon border before June 3, 2026.
The agency further alleged that the escape was carried out with the assistance of an immigration officer who is currently under investigation.
It also claimed that the senior police officer was making arrangements to help the first defendant, identified as Ren Quan Chen, flee through the same route before the court issued the bench warrant.
Following the issuance of the warrant, the Mining Marshals said they tracked Chen to an apartment at the Apo Legislative Quarters in Abuja.
The agency alleged that CSP Oyewumi was found at the apartment alongside other suspected accomplices, including a Chinese woman identified as Sun Hui, who allegedly financed the officer’s illegal activities.
Also allegedly found at the premises was Inspector Kingsley Monkap, with service number NPF 337339, who the agency said is cooperating with investigators.
Reacting to the development, the Commander of the Mining Marshals, Attah John Onoja, described the alleged obstruction of prosecution and facilitation of the defendants’ escape as a serious criminal offence.
Onoja said anyone who assists defendants standing trial to evade justice becomes “an accessory after the fact” under Section 227 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015, and may be liable to punishment under Section 127 of the Penal Code Act.
He said the allegations were more disturbing because they involved serving police officers.
According to him, it is even worse when those accused of helping defendants evade trial are policemen.
Onoja added that such conduct could also amount to discreditable conduct under the Nigeria Police Regulations and may attract dismissal from service.
The commander further alleged that CSP Oyewumi had been living in the same apartment with the fleeing defendants for more than one year, questioning what could have motivated such an arrangement.
He said all the suspects have now been charged in line with the Mining Marshals’ standard operating procedures.
According to him, the suspects, including the re-arrested first defendant, will be re-arraigned before the Federal High Court, where they will be required to explain the whereabouts of the remaining defendants who allegedly jumped bail.
The Mining Marshals also said they had taken possession of the apartment where the suspects were arrested to preserve evidence pending the conclusion of investigations.
The agency further alleged that several rounds of live ammunition for double-barrel and pump-action firearms, as well as quantities of suspected rare minerals, were recovered from the premises.
Investigators also reportedly recovered bank account statements and electronic devices, which are now undergoing forensic examination.
The Mining Marshals said investigations are continuing into the alleged escape, the role of other suspected accomplices, and the whereabouts of the remaining defendants.
