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.

Tunde Kazeem     Salman Alada     Ilorin Curfew     Basic Education Certificate Examination     Abdulrazaq Sanni     Sola Saraki University     Muhammad Mustapha Suleiman     Yakubu Shaaba     Alloy Chukwuemeka     General Tunde Idiagbon International Airport Ilorin     Just Law Forum     Junior Secondary School Certificate Examinations     Adesoye     PPS     George Funsho Adebayo     FERMA     Tunde Saad     NSCIA     Funmilayo Isiaka Oniwa     National Party Of Nigeria     Abdulrasheed Akogun     Yaru     Adamu Jemilat-Baki     Benin Republic     TVC Female National Debate     Abdulhakeem Amao     Abdulmumin Yinka Ajia     Erin-ile     Doyin Agbamu     Oloyede     NITDA     Ayekale     Salman Suleiman     Government House     AbdulRahman Saad     Damilola Yusuf     Abdullateef Abdussalam     Kwara State Fire Service     Gani Saadu     Kanu Agabi     Neuropsychiatric Hospital     Hassan Taiye Salam     Alanamu     Aminat Ahmed     Yakubu Dogara     Kayode Laro     Ayo Salami     Jaigbade Alao     Olaoye B. Felix     Mansur Alfanla     Ilorin Durbar     Ilorin Descendants Progressive Union     Laboratory-to-Product     Raji AbdulRasaq     Umar Adelodun     Lukman Oyebanji Fagbemi     VADA     Mumini Ishola Hanafi     Buari Edun     Firdaos Amasa     Kaiama     Ishola Moses Abiodun     Kwara United     Radio SBS     Ajibola Saliu Ajia     Kolawole Akande     Shettima Of Ilorin     Owo Arugbo     Busari Toyin Isiaka     Jare Olatundun     Elerin Of Adanla     Bolakale Saka     Suraj Tunji Oyewale     Oladipo Akanmu Tolani     Yoonus Kola Olatinwo     Kumbi Titiloye     Valsolar Consultoria    

Cloud Tag: What's trending

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

Abdulmumini Jawondo     Air Peace     Tunji Ajanaku     Lateef Fagbemi     Erin-ile     Suraj Tunji Oyewale     Senate Presidency     Razak Atunwa     Kwara Central     Jumoke Gafar     Olabanji Orilonishe     Joseph Offorjama     Maimunat Oloriegbe     Isiaka AbdulRazaq     Firdaos Amasa     Adaramaja     M.Y. Abdulrahaman     Osi     Isiaka Abdulrazak     AIT Ilorin     Sadiq Buhari     Budo Egba     Ahman Pategi University     Mohammed Saidu     Wasiu Onidugbe     Yoonus Lawal     Ajibola Ademola Julius     Samuel Olusegun Adedayo     Abdulraheem Olesin     Oba David Oyerinola Adedunmoye     Alumni Association Of The Federal Polytechnic Offa     Binta Sulyman     Adedayo Yusuf Abdulkareem     Muftau Akanbi Oke     KWACOBPA     Alimi Abdulrazaq     Aishat Mohammed Lawal     Ayinke Saka     Al-Ilory     Seni Saraki     Lanwa     Sheikh Ridhwanullah     Emir Of Ilorin     CT Ayeni     Olaiya Zuberu     Yusuf Abdulkadir     Saidu Isa     Vasolar Consultoria     Kwabes     Abubakar Bature Sulu-Gambari     Nigerian Army     Kolawole Bashirat     Stephen Fasakin     Nigerian Supreme Council For Islamic Affairs     Sulyman Buhari     07039448763     Arca Santa     CCT     IYA ALFA NLA     Tunji Moronfoye     Gaa Olobi     Iponrin     Eruku     11th Galadima     Akume     Eghe Igbinehin     Press Release     Sobi     Toyin Abdullahi     Chief Imam Of Ilorin     Sarafadeen Kayode Akorede     Sayomi     SDP     Yusuf Abubakar     Lawan     Bayo Lawal     Abiodun Musa Aibinu