Illegal Mining Crackdown: Chinese Nationals and Firm Convicted in Ilorin Court
Two Chinese nationals, Yang Chao and Wu Shan Chuan, have been sentenced to jail for engaging in illegal solid mineral mining activities in Kwara State. The pair were convicted alongside their company, Crius Chemical Nigeria Limited, by Justice Abimbola Awogboro of the Federal High Court in Ilorin.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), through its Ilorin Directorate, prosecuted the defendants on a one-count charge related to unauthorised involvement in solid minerals mining. The court's ruling underscores efforts to enforce regulations and curb illegal mining operations within the state.
The charge sheet read: “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.”
They pleaded “guilty” when the charge was read to them. Following this, EFCC counsel, Sesan Ola, reviewed the facts of the case through a witness—an operative of the commission—who tendered the defendants' extra-judicial statements, a report from the Nigeria Geological Survey Agency, and the defendants' passports, all of which were admitted in evidence.
Satisfied that the prosecution had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt, Justice Awogboro found the defendants guilty, convicting and sentencing them to two years' imprisonment each or an option of a N1 million fine. The N1 million fine was also extended to the company.
In addition to their sentences, the convicts are required to remit N14 million in royalties to the federal government, while all solid minerals found on the premises of their company, located at No.1 Idi Ope Road, along Ogunmakin-Odeda Road, Omi, Ogun State, were forfeited to the federal government, according to a statement by Dele Oyewale, Head of Media and Publicity for the anti-graft agency.
Cloud Tag: What's trending
Click on a word/phrase to read more about it.
Ishola Abdullahi Dar-Al-Handasah Consultants Ltd Bello Taoheed Abubakar Kanu Agabi Bayer Nigeria Limited Haliru Dantoro Jeunkunu-Malete-Bani ARMTI Muhammed Aliyu Earlyon Technologies Ayegbeni Lawal Jimoh 2023 Elections Ilorin Central Mosque Oloriegbe Saliu Ajia Ifelodun Iyabo Dupe Adekeye Muhammad Yahya ASKOMP General Hospital, Ilorin Temi Kolawole Ibrahim Abiodun Abdulmalik Bashir Mopelola Risikatullahi AbdulRazaq Jiddah Babaloja-General Micheal Imoudu Umar Ayinla Saro Omoniyi M. Ayinla Offorjama Saka Onimago Erubu Isaac Aderemi Kolawole Kayode Yusuf Muhammad Toyin Sanusi Funmilayo Oniwa LEAH Charity Foundation Sam Onile Jelili Yusuf Jumoke Monsura Gafar Ballah Fatimah Abdulkadir Chief Imam Of Ilorin Sheikh Ridhwanullah Ahman Pategi University Suleiman Yahya Alapansapa Abdulhakeem Amao Turaki Of Ilorin Yakub Ali-Agan Vasolar Consortium Adam Abdullahi Al-Ilory Saliu Shola Taofeek Muhammed Akanbi Yakubu Gobir Titus Ashaolu Toyin Sanusi Ajayi Okasanmi Pacify Labs Noah Yusuf Sabo-Oke Oju Ekun Sarumi Mumeen Lah General Tunde Idiagbon International Airport Ilorin Nigerian Correctional Service Oke-Ero Aishat Sulu-Gambari Kola Olota Galland Marcias Ashiru Ilorin Like-Minds Rafiu Ibrahim Paul Odama Adanla-Irese Imam Gambari Shehu Alimi Foundation Mohammed Khadijat Kubura Abubakar Atiku

