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.
Countryside Emerging Leaders Fellowship JMK Construction Company Limited Bello Bature SGBN Tsaragi IDPU Kwara State Council Of Chiefs Government High School (GHS), Adeta Charles Ibitoye Rice Farmers Association Of Nigeria Igbaja Abdulwahab Oba M.Y. Abdulrahaman Mutawali Abatemi Usman Yusuf Aiyedun Alfa Belgore Naira Redesign Jumoke F. Ajao Olaitan Buraimoh Rasheed Jimoh Smart School SDP Ahmad Olanrewaju Belgore Hassan Abdulazeez Elewu Alabi Lawal MATTA Girls Foundation Ajibola Saliu Ajia Busari Toyin Isiaka Sebastine Obasi Yemi Osinbajo Egbejila Abdulsalam Firdaous Amosa Durbar Air Peace Abdulazeez Arowona Awoye Oya State Afusat Nike Ibrahim Voices Of Tomorrow Jalala Barakat Community Secondary School Oasis Muslim Care Foundation Ubandoma Umar Gunu Olatunji Moronfoye Hussein Olokooba AIT Ilorin Basit Olatunji Muslim Media Watch Group Of Nigeria Paul Olawoore Mohammed Abdulahi Yahaya Seriki Gambari Rex Olawoye Kaiama Afonja Descendants Union Akeem Olatunji Joseph Bamigboye Halimah Perogi Abubakar Lah Bisi Kristien Yusuf Abdulkadir Abiodun Musa Aibinu Obasanjo Maryam Nurudeen Irepodun Baruten Roheemat Hammed Habeeb Abdullahi Al-Ilory Damilola Yusuf AbdulGafar Tosho Overland Valsolar Consortium Idiagbon Ilorin Water Reticulation Yahaya Seriki Ileloke

