Doveline Investment Nigeria Limited has accused the Chairman of the Cross River State Anti-Illegal Mining Committee and Taskforce, Prince Paul of disobeying a subsisting court judgment and abusing his office by allegedly interfering with lawful mining operations in the state.
Doveline insisted that the dispute was not political but centred on what it described as repeated acts of unlawful enforcement by the state taskforce despite an earlier judgment of the Federal High Court.
The company made the allegations in a statement issued on Tuesday by its Public Relations Unit and signed by Bassey Attah, while responding to a recent press statement by paul’s media team, which had described the controversy surrounding the firm’s operations as politically motivated.
According to the firm, the Federal High Court sitting in Calabar, in Suit No. FHC/CA/CS/41/2025 involving Olayi Mines & Energy Ltd and others, ruled on February 19, 2026, that the taskforce acted outside its statutory powers when it seized mining equipment belonging to the plaintiffs.
It said the court ordered the unconditional release of excavator keys and two 150-amp excavator batteries allegedly seized by the taskforce and awarded N5m damages against the defendants.
The company claimed that despite the judgment, Paul allegedly continued to interfere with mining activities, including the reported removal of excavator batteries and other mechanical components from Doveline’s mining site without the authorisation of the relevant federal mining authorities.
“Doveline’s position is straightforward. The company was lawfully assigned to extract iron ore through Giant Cement under supply arrangements involving Lafarge Africa Plc. Rather than verify our documentation through the appropriate channels, the taskforce allegedly resorted to confrontation, seizure and intimidation,” the statement read.
The firm further alleged that a facilitation agreement relating to its iron ore operations listed Effiong as a beneficiary of N2,000 per tonne of iron ore supplied and contained his personal bank account details, raising what it described as serious ethical concerns.
It urged the taskforce chairman to explain the alleged agreement, the reported seizure of its equipment and what it described as continued disregard for the court’s judgment.
Doveline also called on the Cross River State Government to ensure that mining enforcement in the state was carried out in accordance with the law and through agencies legally empowered to regulate mining activities.
The company reaffirmed its commitment to lawful operations, environmental responsibility and cooperation with regulatory authorities, adding that it would continue to seek legal redress over the matter.
When contacted, Paul did not respond to calls and a text message sent to his mobile telephone line as of the time of filing this report. His reaction was still being awaited.