Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
Stone Rockers Limited, a construction company operating within the Federal Capital Territory, has filed a N5 billion lawsuit against the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), challenging what it describes as an unlawful closure of its quarry site and the seizure of its equipment. The suit, registered as FHC/ABJ/CS/2412/2025 at the Federal High Court in Abuja, also names the NSCDC Commandant-General and Attah John Onoja, commander of the Corps’ specialised mining marshals unit, as defendants. The company’s legal action raises broader questions about enforcement authority, property rights, and regulatory oversight in Nigeria’s extraction industry.
Stone Rockers, represented by Senior Advocate of Nigeria Olalekan Ojo, argues that the NSCDC acted beyond its statutory powers when it shut down its quarry operations at Gaube Farmland Layout in Barmishi Village, Kuje Area Council (FCT). The business says its quarry was lawfully covered by quarry lease No. 37326 and that it was engaged in legitimate commercial activities serving the construction sector when the Corps intervened. The firm alleges that on July 24, 2025, NSCDC agents sealed the site and prevented it from continuing its operations following allegations that the company had encroached on land claimed by another business, Lord Career Ventures Nigeria Limited. According to the plaintiff, neither a valid court order nor any lawful authority authorised the shutdown or the confiscation of its machinery and other assets.
The company maintains that its operations were abruptly halted and equipment seized without due process, which it contends amounts to a violation of its constitutional rights to property, fair hearing, and lawful commercial activity. In its originating motion, Stone Rockers seeks a declaration that the NSCDC’s actions — including the closure of the quarry on July 24 and the subsequent seizure of equipment on August 16, 2025 — were unlawful and an abuse of power. The firm also wants the court to order the return of all seized equipment and to restrain the Corps and its officers from interfering with its operations in the future.
The construction company is asking the court to award N5 billion in general, special, and exemplary damages to compensate for economic losses, reputational harm, emotional distress, and what it describes as the disruption of its legitimate business. It further seeks a court order permitting it to resume full quarry operations without obstruction or harassment from security agents. Stone Rockers argues that the actions of the NSCDC set a dangerous precedent for government enforcement agencies interfering in private enterprise without clear legal authority.
The NSCDC was established with a mandate that includes protecting national critical assets and infrastructure, and in recent years has expanded its role in combating illegal mining through the deployment of specialised Mining Marshals units to enforce compliance with mining regulations across the country. These units are tasked with stopping unlawful resource extraction and ensuring legal operators comply with statutory requirements. However, Stone Rockers’ lawsuit highlights tensions between enforcement activities and the rights of licensed operators, especially where land disputes or competing claims arise.
Disputes between security agencies and mining or quarry operators are not unprecedented in Nigeria, where illegal mining has long been a concern for lawmakers and regulators. Committees of the House of Representatives have warned that quarry operations without proper documentation or regulatory compliance risk licence revocation or sanction, demonstrating the broader scrutiny of mining practices in the country.
The case has been assigned to Justice Mohammed Umar of the Federal High Court in Abuja, with a hearing scheduled for May 19, 2026. Legal experts say the outcome could have far-reaching implications for how enforcement agencies interact with private firms in the solid minerals sector, particularly regarding due process, property rights, and the limits of statutory powers in shutting down operations alleged to be unlawful.
Observers are also watching how this matter ties into existing enforcement efforts against illegal mining and the balance between protecting legitimate business interests and combating non-compliant activities. While the NSCDC has emphasised its role in safeguarding national resources, critics argue that actions taken without clear legal backing undermine investor confidence and raise concerns for the rule of law in regulatory enforcement.
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