Illegal Mining Crackdown: Chinese Nationals and Firm Convicted in Ilorin Court

Date: 2025-03-11

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.

Okala Baba     Yahaya Jibril Usman     Ibrahim Oniye     Idowu Laro     Shonga Farm Project     Towoju     Shuaib Abdulkadir     Voices Of Tomorrow     CLAY POT     Chief Imam Of Lafiagi     Olatunji Bamgbola     Wahab Isa     Kawu Baraje     Afolayan     Zainab Abass     Tsaragi-Share     Haleeman Salman     Akume     Owode Market     Kunle Okeowo     Alabi Lawal     Sidikat Akaje     Segun Ogunsola     Umar Ayinla Saro     Abdulmalik Bashir Mopelola Risikatullahi     Gamji Members Association     Oniyangi Kunle Sulaiman     Ope Saraki     Babatunde Ishola Babaita     SDP     Valsolar Consortium     Isaac Gbenle     Abdulrahman Abdullahi Kayode     Ilorin Amusement Park     Funke Adedoyin     07039448763     Noah Yusuf     Ahmad Belgore     Amuda Aluko     NITDA     Ladi Hassan     NTA Ilorin     Sabo-Oke     Muhammed Mahe Abdulkadir     Musa Yeketi     HYPPADEC     Muhammed Danjuma     Rabiu Kwankwaso     Oko Erin     Wale Oladepo     Bayer Nigeria Limited     Ministry Of Women Affairs And Social Development     Sunday Popo-Ola     Fatai Garuba Labaka     Mukhtar Shagaya     Lasiele Alabi Yahaya     Just Event Online     Dankaka     Musbau A. Akanji     Kuliyan Geri     Saadu Yusuf     Yahaya Seriki     Omoniyi     KWACOBPA     Amosa     Ilorin.Info     Makama     Baba Issa     Ishaq Oloyede     College Of Health     Adamu Jemilat-Baki     3MTT     Ridhwanullah Al-Ilory     Hussein Olokooba     Samuel Elizabeth Keatswa     Dagbalodo     LABTOP    

Cloud Tag: What's trending

Click on a word/phrase to read more about it.

QuickWin     Ibraheem Adeola Katibi     BIR     Ahmed Ayinla Jimoh     Face Masks     Toun Okewale-Sonaiya     Students Union Government     Modibo Kawu     Ahmed Alhasssan     Tunde Yusuf     Kunle Suleiman     CT Ayeni     All Peoples Party     Usman Rifun     Oba Abu     Abdullahi G. Mohammad     Taofik Mustapha     Taofeeq Olateju     Owo Isowo     Nupe     Mohammed Saidu     KWTV     Wahab Kunle Shittu     Majlis For Sadakah, Zakat And Waqf     Abdulfatai Ahmed     Jumoke Monsura Gafar     Ayo Adeyemi     KWASAA     Islamiya Abdulraheem     Folajimi Aleshinloye     CKNG     Saheed Alakoso     Ilorin.Info     Ministry Of Women Affairs And Social Development     Isaac Gbenle     Innocent Okoye     James Ayeni     Lawal Olohungbebe     Manzuma     Suraj Tunji Oyewale     Christian Association Of Nigeria     Shettima Of Ilorin     Salman Alada     Gani Saadu     Press Release     Dankaka     Elesie Of Esie     Olatunji Bamgbola     Vishvas KOZ Tractors     IFK     Revenue Court     Dan Iya Of Ilorin     Iyaloja-General     Elerinjare-Ibobo     Abdulkadir Jimoh     Sayomi     Madawaki Of Ilorin     Popo-Igbonna     Bareke     Tuesday Assayomo     Zaratu Umar     Mahmud Durosinlohun Atiku     Jumoke Gafar     Ilorin Amusement Park     Hassan Oyeleke     Opaleke Bukola Iyabo     HICA     Olupako     Siraj Oyewale     Elections     KWSIEC     KWSUED     Halidu Danbaba     Public Holiday     Salaudeen Oyewale     Abdulsalam A. Yusuf     Elerin Of Erin-Ile