*Members of the probe panel and the Cross State River the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Ededem C. Ani.
The Cross River State Government has constituted a seven-member committee to investigate complaints raised by Giant Cement Company Limited over the activities of the State Task Force on Illegal Mining Operations.
The committee, headed by the Solicitor General and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Justice, Mr Simeon Abi, was constituted by the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Ededem C. Ani, pursuant to a directive by Governor Bassey Edet Otu.
The development comes amid wider concerns by mining operators over alleged interference by the state task force in operations that companies say fall within the regulatory jurisdiction of federal mining authorities.
In a related dispute involving Doveline Investment Nigeria Limited, a company that said its iron-ore extraction activities were carried out through Giant Cement, the company alleged that the task force had interfered with its operations, seized mining equipment and removed excavator batteries and other components without a court order, police warrant or directive from the appropriate federal mining authorities.
Doveline also cited a February 19, 2026 judgment of the Federal High Court in Calabar in Suit No. FHC/CA/CS/41/2025 involving Olayi Mines & Energy Ltd and others. According to the company, the court held that the task force had acted outside its lawful authority in seizing mining equipment and ordered the release of excavator keys and two 150-ampere batteries, while awarding N5 million in damages against the first to sixth defendants. These claims about the judgment were made by Doveline in its statement.
The company further alleged that the task force chairman, Prince Paul Effiong, was connected to a separate facilitation arrangement involving a proposed payment of N2,000 per tonne from its iron-ore supply business, and questioned the propriety of such an arrangement involving the head of a government task force overseeing mining activities. The allegation has not been established by the Cross River Government’s announcement of the probe.
Doveline maintained that it was not opposed to lawful regulation, environmental protection or compliance with mining laws, but objected to what it described as intimidation, unlawful seizure of equipment and interference with legitimate mining operations. It called for enforcement activities to remain within the powers conferred by law on the relevant authorities.
Panel begins investigation
Inaugurating the committee on Thursday, 24th, September, 2026,
Ani outlined its terms of reference and directed the State Task Force on Illegal Mining Operations to suspend further actions relating to Giant Cement’s complaints pending the outcome of the investigation.
He also directed the task force to refrain from interfering with mining activities except where there is clear evidence of illegality, in accordance with the Governor’s directive.
The seven-member panel comprises representatives of the Ministry of Justice, the Federal and State Ministries of Mineral Resources, the State Security Adviser, the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).
Ani said the committee would examine the issues raised by the company, clarify the respective responsibilities of the various stakeholders and provide a basis for resolving areas of concern within the framework of the law.
The Attorney General assured legitimate investors in Cross River’s mining sector of the state government’s commitment to creating an enabling environment in which lawful businesses can operate without undue interference.
He said the administration remained committed to regulating the sector in accordance with the law, protecting legitimate investments and ensuring that mining operations complied with applicable laws and regulations.
Ani, however, warned operators engaged in illegal mining to desist forthwith, stressing that anyone found violating the law would face the full weight of the law.
The investigation is therefore expected to determine the factual circumstances surrounding the complaints, the respective statutory responsibilities of state and federal authorities, and whether any enforcement measures taken against the company or its associated operations were within the powers of the task force.
