Attah Onoja, the commander of the mining marshals has instituted a N20 billion defamation suit against Terver Douglas Najime, a lawyer, and Abel Augustine, a blogger, over allegations of extortion and abuse of office.

Mr Onoja’s counsel, Adeola Adedipe, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, said the suit filed before the high court of the Federal Capital Territory, followed the publication of a malicious petition purportedly submitted to the State Security Service against his client.

Mr Adedipe said his client, Mr Onojo, was accused by Messrs Najime and Augustine of demanding ₦50 million bribe from Mundasa Global Company Limited owned by Dahiru Salihu, to facilitate the release of some of the firm’s staff members who were arrested for alleged illegal mining activities.

In a writ of summons obtained by Peoples Gazette on Wednesday, the FCT High Court ordered Messrs Najime and Augustine to enter their appearances in the matter within seven days of being served with the suit.

“Take notice that in default of your doing so, the claimant may proceed, and judgment may be given in your absence,” the writ of summons dated February 24, 2026 reads in part.

The Gazette had earlier reported how mining marshals arrested five staff members of Mundasa Global Company Limited on December 27, 2025 at Kebbi Mangoro within Kuje Area Council of the FCT. 

The arrested suspects were identified as Muhammed Aliyu, 39; Abdulrahman Hashimu, 32; Tahir Muhammed, 43; Awaje Abduljalal, 19; and Kabiru Adamu, 38.

Following their arrests, the mining marshals’ commander, Mr Onoja, declared the firm’s owner, Mr Salihu wanted for alleged impersonation. 

Mr Salihu, however, denied the allegations, noting that he was “a known miner whose documents are intact and duly obtained from the appropriate Nigerian authorities.” 

Mr Adedipe, in the suit filed before the FCT high court, said Messrs Najime and Augustine accused Mr Onoja of extortion, criminal intimidation and abuse of office in the alleged illegal mining case involving Mr Salihu and his firm, Mundasa Global Company Limited. 

Mr Adedipe told the court that the allegations made against his client were “entirely false and damaging to his reputation.” He added that when Mr Onoja contacted the SSS over the purported petition, the secret police confirmed that it did not receive any such petition.

Consequently, Mr Onoja asked the court to award ₦20 billion to him as compensation for the alleged damages caused by Messrs Najime and Augustine’s claims.

Expressing his confidence in the judicial process, Mr Adedipe maintained that his client would not succumb to intimidation.

“Mr Onoja will not be intimidated or blackmailed into dropping legitimate charges against those engaging in illegal mining activities,” the senior advocate reportedly stated.

Mr Adedipe said the defendants are expected to file their defence within seven days of receiving the service of the writ, beginning from Wednesday, March 11, 2026. 

“The writ of summons was served on the defendants on Wednesday, March 11, and the suit will come up for mention for the first time on April 17,” Mr Adedipe said, adding “If a suit is filed, the defendants will only know when they are served, as filing is different from mention. The seven-day ultimatum started counting from the day of service on the defendants, which was yesterday (Wednesday).”

Mr Augustine’s telephone line was unreachable on Wednesday night when our correspondent attempted to contact him for comments. Text message to his line was also not returned as of press time.