A coalition of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to remove Barrister Deji Adeyanju from the presidential probe panel investigating the deaths of illegal miners in Niger State. The coalition expressed concerns about Adeyanju's conduct since his appointment to the panel, citing the need for integrity, maturity, focus, and coordination in the sensitive national assignment. The Federal Government had set up a 10-member independent committee to investigate the deaths, which occurred on September 17, 2026, while the suspects were in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).
The committee, chaired by retired Deputy Director-General of the Department of State Services, Jonathan Kure, aims to establish the identities of the deceased and investigate the circumstances surrounding their arrest, detention, and deaths. The panel was given a two-week mandate to conduct a comprehensive investigation and submit its findings to President Tinubu. The CSOs argued that members of the panel should demonstrate restraint, neutrality, and professionalism throughout the investigation, discharging their responsibilities diligently and independently, without bias or external influence.
The coalition alleged that Adeyanju had continued to engage with the media, making public pronouncements and expressing positions while the investigation was still ongoing. This conduct could prejudice the investigation and undermine confidence in the neutrality of the probe panel, the CSOs warned. They emphasized that public comments by a sitting member of the committee could create perceptions of bias, heighten tensions, and weaken public confidence in the panel's eventual findings.
The CSOs further claimed that such conduct could expose the investigation to accusations of bias and provide grounds for affected parties to challenge or reject the committee's findings. The alleged actions could also create internal disagreements within the panel and give the impression that one member was attempting to overshadow the chairman and other members. The coalition stressed that a presidential investigation requires teamwork, confidentiality, and discipline.
According to the National Coordinator of the Solid Hands Empowerment Initiative for the Development of Rural Areas, Comrade Ogunleye Gbolabo, the CSOs were concerned about Adeyanju's conduct and its potential impact on the investigation. Gbolabo made the call in a statement issued to journalists on Tuesday in Abuja, urging President Tinubu to remove Adeyanju from the probe panel to protect the integrity of the process.
The coalition maintained that members of a high-level presidential investigation should refrain from making public comments or granting media interviews while the investigation is ongoing. Where official communication becomes necessary, the chairman of the committee should speak on behalf of the panel, they added. This approach would ensure that the investigation is conducted in a fair, transparent, and unbiased manner.
The CSOs' appeal to President Tinubu to remove Adeyanju from the Niger miners' death probe panel aims to safeguard the investigation's credibility and prevent potential controversies. The president's decision will be crucial in determining the probe panel's effectiveness and the public's confidence in its findings. The incident has raised concerns about the safety and treatment of suspects in custody, and a thorough investigation is essential to uncover the truth and prevent similar incidents in the future.
Key points
- The coalition of CSOs demands removal of Deji Adeyanju from the presidential probe panel due to concerns about his conduct and potential bias.
- The presidential panel was set up to investigate the deaths of illegal miners in Niger State, which occurred on September 17, 2026.
- The committee has a two-week mandate to conduct a comprehensive investigation and submit its findings to President Tinubu.
