Doveline referenced a judgment of the Federal High Court, Calabar Division, in Suit No. FHC/CA/CS/41/2025, delivered on February 19, 2026, involving Olayi Mines & Energy Ltd and others.
By TheInvestigator
Doveline Investment Nigeria Limited has accused the Chairman of the Cross River State Anti-Illegal Mining Committee and Taskforce, Paul Effiong, of abusing public office, alleging unlawful interference in its mining operations and personal financial interest in the company’s business dealings.
The allegations were contained in a press statement issued on Monday by the company’s Public Relations Unit and signed by Bassey Attah.
The company was responding to an earlier statement issued by the media team of the taskforce chairman, which reportedly described recent developments involving Doveline as politically motivated.
Rejecting the claim, Doveline said the dispute was not political but centred on what it described as the unlawful conduct of a public official.
According to the company, the controversy concerns the alleged use of government authority to interfere with legitimate mining operations, seize mining equipment and pursue private financial interests.
Doveline referenced a judgment of the Federal High Court, Calabar Division, in Suit No. FHC/CA/CS/41/2025, delivered on February 19, 2026, involving Olayi Mines & Energy Ltd and others.
The company said the court held that the Cross River State Anti-Illegal Mining Committee and Taskforce acted outside its lawful authority when it seized mining equipment belonging to the plaintiffs. It further stated that the court ruled that the taskforce lacked the statutory powers reserved for the Federal Ministry of Solid Minerals Development, the Mining Cadastre Office and the Federal Mines Officer.
According to Doveline, the court ordered the unconditional release of excavator keys and two 150-ampere excavator batteries seized from the plaintiffs and awarded ₦5 million in damages against the first to sixth defendants jointly and severally.
The company alleged that despite the judgment, the taskforce chairman was again linked to the invasion of its mining site, where excavator batteries and other mechanical components were allegedly removed without a court order, police warrant or directive from the relevant federal mining authorities.
Doveline maintained that it was lawfully engaged in iron ore extraction through Giant Cement, with its operations tied to supply arrangements involving Lafarge Africa Plc.
The company also alleged the existence of a facilitation agreement under which the taskforce chairman was named as a beneficiary of a ₦2,000-per-tonne payment from its iron ore supply business, with his personal bank account details reportedly provided for payment.
It argued that the alleged arrangement raised ethical concerns over a public officer benefiting personally from activities within a sector he oversees.
Doveline further accused the taskforce chairman’s media team of attempting to politicise the dispute by portraying it as an attack linked to former federal lawmaker Daniel Asuquo, describing the narrative as a distraction from the substantive issues.
The company reiterated that it supports lawful regulation, environmental protection and compliance with mining laws but opposed what it described as intimidation, unlawful seizure of equipment and abuse of public office.
It urged the public to disregard what it termed a misleading narrative surrounding the dispute and called on the Cross River State Government to ensure that enforcement activities remain within the limits of the law.
Doveline also called on the taskforce chairman to publicly explain the circumstances surrounding the previous court judgment, the alleged seizure of its equipment and the reported facilitation agreement.
The company said it would continue to pursue legal remedies while remaining committed to lawful operations, environmental responsibility and cooperation with relevant regulatory authorities.
As of the time of filing this report, Paul Effiong had responded to enquiry from our newsroom on the specific allegations contained in Doveline’s latest statement.
