{"id":45957,"date":"2025-03-11T14:37:24","date_gmt":"2025-03-11T13:37:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/osazuwaakonedo.news\/?p=45957"},"modified":"2025-03-11T14:51:20","modified_gmt":"2025-03-11T13:51:20","slug":"court-jails-2-chinese-over-illegal-mining-in-kwara-efcc-arrests-31-in-jos","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/osazuwaakonedo.news\/court-jails-2-chinese-over-illegal-mining-in-kwara-efcc-arrests-31-in-jos\/","title":{"rendered":"Court Jails 2 Chinese Over Illegal Mining In Kwara, EFCC Arrests 31 In Jos"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Federal High Court sitting in Kwara State has sentenced two Chinese Nationals to two years imprisonment with an option of one million naira each in addition to the payment of \u20a614 million to the Federal Government of Nigeria as Royalties after the court found them guilty of committing the crime of illegal mining in the state without due approval from appropriate authority, just, as men of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission. EFCC ON Saturday arrested 31 others in Jos, Plateau State over illegal mining which included 27 Nigerians and Four Chinese Nationals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Details of the news reportage are presented below as reported by the Public Relations Unit of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Court Jails Two Chinese for Illegal Mining in Kwara<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Justice Abimbola Awogboro of the Federal High Court, Ilorin on Friday, March 7, 2025 convicted and sentenced two Chinese, Yang Chao and Wu Shan Chuan to prison for illegal mining of solid minerals in Kwara State. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

They were convicted along with their company, Crius Chemical Nigeria Limited.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They were prosecuted on a one-count charge, bordering on dealing with illegal solid minerals mining.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The charge reads: “That you, Yang Chao, Wu Shan Chuan, and Crius Chemical Nigeria Limited, sometime in March 2024, within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court, engaged in dealing with minerals without lawful authority, thereby committing an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 134(b) of the Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act, 2007.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They pleaded \u201cguilty\u201d when it was read to them, following which EFCC counsel, Sesan Ola reviewed the facts of the case through a witness, an operative of the Commission, who tendered the defendants\u2019 extra-judicial statements, a report from the Nigeria Geological Survey Agency, and the defendants\u2019 passports, all of which were admitted in evidence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Satisfied that the prosecution has proven its case beyond reasonable doubts, Justice Awogboro, found the defendants guilty, convicted and sentenced them to two years imprisonment each or to pay \u20a61 million fine respectively. The \u20a61 million fine was also extended to the company.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition to their sentences, the convicts are to remit the sum of
\u20a614 million in royalties to the federal government while all solid minerals found in the premises of the company, located at Number 1, Idi Ope Road, along Ogunmakin-Odede Road, Omi, Ogun State where forfeited to the federal government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

EFCC Arrests 31 Suspected Illegal Miners in Jos<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Kaduna Zonal Directorate on Saturday March 8, 2025 arrested 31 suspected illegal miners in Jos, Plateau State capital.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They were arrested in the premises of Jiasheng Nigeria Limited, located at Dura Rayfield, Mangu Road, Jos following credible intelligence linking the company to illegal mining activities in the state.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The arrested included four Chinese and 27 Nigerians, part of whom were suppliers in possession of unprocessed solid minerals, suspected to have been illegally mined.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They are: Liang Qinyong,Wang Huajie, Zhong Jiajing, Long Kechong, Akilu Akonimi, Umar Mohammed, Aaron Davo, Auwal Abdullahi, Haruna Umar, Prosper Goddey, Alex Long, Mathew Onmaza, Oupe Anzaku, Samson Luka, John Nwang and Saidu Mohammed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Others are; Mohammed Musa, Abubakar Ibrahim, Mohammed Zaradeen, Yakubu Adidzi, Isah Dahiru, Yusuf Musa, Benjamin D Dalop, Ibrahim Wakili, Adam Muhammed, Abubakar Ahmed Muazu, Murtala Abubakar, Peter Yakubu, Ibrahim Musa, Monday Christopher and Billard Musa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Items recovered in the premises upon
the arrests included a truck loaded with eight bags of processed Monazite,
weighing 1000kg, worth \u20a64 million each.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They would be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded.<\/p>\n

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