Glister Success Nigeria petitions EFCC Chairman over alleged harassment, seizure of truck

Michael Olumide

A mining company, Glister Success Limited, has accused the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) of harassment, arbitrary seizure of its vehicles and intimidation of its employees, calling for urgent intervention by the agency’s leadership.

The company made the allegation in a formal letter of complaint addressed to the Executive Chairman of the EFCC, Ola Olukoyede, through its legal representatives, Biodun Abdu-Raheem & Co.

In the petition, the firm alleged that officials of the EFCC’s Ilorin Zonal Office had repeatedly harassed its workers and impounded its operational vehicles without lawful justification.

According to the letter, the company, licensed by the Federal Government since 1997, operates in the mining sector, processing marble into calcium carbonate used as a basic raw material for several industries in Nigeria.

The legal representatives stated that the company has consistently fulfilled its obligations to the Federal Government, state authorities and host communities while complying with all regulatory requirements stipulated in the Nigeria Mineral and Mining Act 2007.

The law firm explained that the alleged harassment dates back to March 20, 2024, when officials of the EFCC’s Ilorin office reportedly seized one of the company’s trucks loaded with marble rocks.

According to the petition, the EFCC officials also arrested and detained several employees of the company during the operation.

The lawyers argued that the detention of the workers violated their fundamental rights to personal liberty as guaranteed under Section 35 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).

The company further claimed that despite presenting valid documents, including operational licences and evidence of payment of relevant government dues, the EFCC officials allegedly refused to release the truck and goods.

The detained employees, the letter stated, were kept in custody for more than four weeks and were only released following a court order in a case marked HOG/MISC.8/2024.

The situation, according to the petition, resurfaced on November 28, 2025, when officials from the same EFCC Ilorin office allegedly returned to seize additional goods belonging to the company and again arrested some of its employees over what the firm described as similar issues.

The lawyers noted that the Federal Ministry of Solid Minerals Development had subsequently written to the EFCC Ilorin office confirming the legality and validity of the mining operations carried out by the company.

Despite this clarification, the company alleged that the seized goods and truck are still being held by the EFCC.

Although the arrested workers were later released after about a week, the company said the continued seizure of its property and the alleged intimidation of its employees had disrupted operations.

The petition also stated that workers of the firm now operate under constant fear of arrest and detention.

The law firm described the actions of the EFCC officials as intimidation and a breach of the fundamental rights of the company and its staff.

Consequently, the company has asked the EFCC chairman to urgently intervene and address the matter.

Specifically, the petition requested the EFCC leadership to investigate the activities of the Ilorin Zonal Office in relation to the incident.

The company also urged the commission to identify the officials responsible for the alleged actions and caution them appropriately.

In addition, the firm demanded the immediate release of the seized truck and marble goods currently in EFCC custody.

It further called on the commission to halt what it described as the indiscriminate arrest and detention of its employees.

The legal representatives stressed that the complaint should be treated with urgency, warning that the continued situation could lead to further violations of the company’s rights if not addressed promptly.

As of the time of filing this report, the EFCC had yet to publicly respond to the allegations raised by the mining company.