MINING COMPANY FILES COMPLAINT WITH EFCC OVER TRUCK SEIZURE, WORKERS’ DETENTION

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By: Muftau Fatimo

Lagos-based mining firm, Glister Success Limited, has petitioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) chairman, Ola Olukoyede, over what it described as the unlawful seizure of its truck and goods.

The company also raised concerns about the “repeated arrests and detention” of its staff by EFCC operatives from the Ilorin Zonal Office.

In a petition dated March 5, 2026, and obtained by the media on Friday, Glister Success, through its lawyers, Biodun Abdu-Raheem & Co., urged the EFCC to investigate the conduct of the officers involved and called for the immediate release of its impounded truck and marble products.

The firm alleged that EFCC operatives initially seized the truck and marble rock on March 20, 2024, and detained some employees without lawful justification.

It stated that the commission’s officers allegedly refused to release the vehicle and the detained workers despite the presentation of valid operational licences and proof of payment of relevant government dues.

The firm stated that the workers were eventually released after being held in custody for more than four weeks, following a court order in Suit No. HOG/MISC.8/2024.

“Our client informed us that on the 20th day of March 2024, officials of the EFCC, Ilorin Zonal Office, without any lawful basis, seized the company truck and goods (marble rock).”

These officials also went ahead to detain our client’s employees in a manner intended to violate their right to personal liberty as contained in Section 35 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), to say the least,” the petition reads.

The company alleged that the same officers returned on November 28, 2025, to seize its goods and arrest its workers over what the firm described as a “similar issue.”

The petition revealed that the Federal Ministry of Solid Minerals Development later wrote to the EFCC confirming the legality of the company’s mining operations.

Despite this confirmation, the company claimed that the seized truck and goods remained in EFCC custody, while the workers arrested during the second incident were released about a week later.

According to the petition, the company’s staff now live in fear of further arrest and harassment.

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“Our client’s staff are in constant fear of daily threats and harassment, including detention without any reasonable justification,” the petition read.

The company maintained that it had been a licensed mining firm under the Federal Government since 1997 and operates in compliance with the Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act.

The company explained that its operations involve processing marble rock into calcium carbonate, a key raw material for Nigerian industries.

It claimed that the actions of EFCC officials constituted intimidation and infringed on the firm’s fundamental rights.

In the petition, Glister Success Limited urged the EFCC chairman to investigate the Ilorin Zonal Office, identify the officers responsible, release the impounded truck and goods, and halt what it described as the arbitrary arrest and detention of its employees.

“Given the ongoing risk of violations against our client’s fundamental rights, we respectfully request that your office address this complaint with utmost urgency,” the petition stated.

Attempts to obtain a comment from the EFCC spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, were unsuccessful, as he did not answer calls or respond to messages.