Miners’ deaths: Adeyanju rejects panel payment, vows to expose cover-up

By Luminous Jannamike

Human rights lawyer Deji Adeyanju has joined the committee investigating the deaths of alleged gold miners in Minna, Niger State, vowing to expose any attempt to shield those responsible or suppress the truth.

Adeyanju said he accepted the assignment to ensure that the victims’ interests were protected and that the circumstances surrounding their deaths were fully established.

In a statement on Saturday, Adeyanju said he was invited by the government to serve on the committee with a view to ensuring that the interests of the victims were adequately represented.

“I have accepted this responsibility and thank the Government for considering me worthy to serve,” he said.

But Adeyanju said he would not accept any financial benefit from the assignment, urging the government not to provide stipends or honoraria for committee members.

“I urge the Government not to make any monetary provision, stipend or honorarium for members of the committee, as this is a national duty for which we should be prepared to sacrifice,” he said.

He also said he would personally shoulder the cost of his participation, including hotel accommodation, transportation and other expenses.

“I will not accept any such payment, and I will not participate in or tolerate any attempt to compromise the investigation or cover up wrongdoing,” Adeyanju said.

The lawyer then issued a direct warning that any attempt to protect those responsible or bury the findings of the investigation would be exposed.

“If there is any attempt to shield those responsible or suppress the truth, I will expose it,” he said.

Adeyanju said the victims deserved justice and insisted that the investigation must not be allowed to fall victim to what he described as the ‘Nigerian factor’.

“The victims deserve justice, and the Nigerian factor as we know it must not be allowed to prevail,” he said.

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