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.

Ogbondoroko     Durosinlohun Atiku     Abubakar Bature Sulu-Gambari     Shuaib Jawondo     Olatunde Oyeyiola     Marafan Shonga     Sarah Alade     Kwara Consultative Forum     IHS Towers     Abdullah Janet Amudat     Code Of Conduct Tribunal     Sulyman Buhari     Ayo Salami     Ahmed Ayinla Jimoh     Yakub Ali-Agan     ANCOPPS     Suleman Abubakar     Abdulrahman Onikijipa     Azeez Bello     Balogun Fulani     Afonja     Bayo Mohammed Onimode     Abdulrauf Yusuf     Unicontinental Construction Company     Ademola Kiyesola     Adamu Jemilat-Baki     Alapansapa     Omoniyi     Arca Santa     Yakubu Danladi     Femi Oladiji     Asa LGEA School     Amuda Aluko     Isau     Muideen Olaniyi Alalade     Adamu B. Yaqubu     Yusuf Lanre Badmas     Bukola Ajikobi     Funmilayo Braithwaite     Gbenga Awoyale     Ishaq Oloyede     Plat Technologies     Eruku     Edret Sabi Abel     T And K FOODS     Ilorin West/Asa Federal Constituency     Gamji Members Association     Tunde Akanbi     Bayo Lawal     Hamza Usman     Omotoso     Ilota     Ahmed Idris Mohammed     Afolabi-Oshatimehin     Rachael Obisesan     Ilorin Like-Minds     Paul Olawoore     Abdulkadir Bolakale Sakariyah     Sherif Shagaya     Gbugbu     Shuaib Olarongbe     Isiaka Alikinla     Mohammed Ibrahim     Road Transport Employers Association Of Nigeria     Riskat Opakunle     Saka Adeyemo     Olaitan Adefila     HYPPADEC     Samari     Oba-Solagberu     Christopher Odetunde     M.Y. Abdulrahaman     Nigerian Army     Okedare     Alimi Abdulrazaq     Sulu Babaita Isiaka     Muhammad Sirajo Aliyu    

Cloud Tag: What's trending

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

David Oyerinola Adedunmoye     KWATMA     Mohammed Danjuma     Folaranmi Aro     Tunji Ajanaku     Musibau Akanji     Olosi Of Osi     Kwara State Governor     Bayer Nigeria Limited     Muslim Cementary     Abdulrazaq Magaji     Dan Iya Of Ilorin     James Ayeni     Atiku Abubakar     John Dara     IEDPU     Ajasse-Ipo     Ministry Of Women Affairs And Social Development     Oke-opin     Olaitan Buraimoh     Nigerian Correctional Service     Edret Sabi Abel     Senior Staff Union Of Colleges Of Education     Ridwan Agboola     Dairo Kunle Paul     Rafiu Ibrahim     Michael Ologundea     Harmony Holdings     NFAI     Bilikisu Gambari     Photo News     Saadu Alanamu     Musa Abdullahi     Orisa Bridge     Doyin Group     JAAC     Woro     PAACO-PCL Consortium     Adamu Jemilat-Baki     Alao Ayotunde     Abegunde Goke     Association Of Kwara State Online Media Practitioners     Adekunle David Dunmade     Wole Oke     Allocation     NIPOGA     Sabi     Issa Oloruntogun     Hamidu Olowo     KWASIEC     Islamiya Abdulraheem     Bayo Ajia     Nurudeen Muhammed     Ajase-Ipo     Ibrahim Mohammed     Taofeek Sanusi     Seni Saraki     Idris Garuba     Arinola Lawal     NSCIA     Abiodun Jacob Ajiboye     Hassanat Bello     Dar-Al-Handasah Consultants     Waheed Ibrahim     Solomon Edojah     Abdulkarim Adisa     IDPU     Olaiya Zuberu     Oko     John Mayokun Dada     Salihu Ajibola Ajia     Mohammed Yahaya Barki     Sheikh Ridhwanullah El-ilory     Hijaab     Bayo Onimago     Millennium Development Goals     Folajimi Aleshinloye