The Acting Director of Legal at the Minerals Commission, Josef Iroko, has rejected claims by Adamus Resources Limited that its mining leases were revoked without due process.
His response follows concerns raised by the company that it was neither formally notified of the allegations against it nor given the opportunity to respond before the revocation. Adamus has maintained that the decision was based on claims that do not reflect the true state of its operations.
However, speaking on Citi Eyewitness News on Monday, April 27, Mr. Iroko said the Commission followed the appropriate procedures, including engaging officials of the company during investigations.
According to him, the Commission’s Inspectorate Division interacted with key management staff of the company, allowing them to present their side of the matter.
“We have an investigation report in which the company’s General Manager, Mine Manager, and other officials were engaged by the Inspectorate Division. They were engaged, and they gave their side of the story, so they were given a fair hearing,” he said.
Mr. Iroko explained that while the law typically requires notice to be served in cases of breaches, the circumstances of this case warranted immediate action.
“There is the law ordinarily, when you breach the provisions of your mining lease, the law requires notices to be given to you, but in this case, you are found to have done unlawful mining. You brought Chinese people into the place. If we give you notice, what are you going to remedy?” he stated.
The Minerals Commission maintains that the revocation was justified based on findings from its investigations and in line with efforts to enforce compliance within the mining sector.
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