A Federal High Court sitting in Ilorin has convicted two individuals and a company for engaging in illegal mining activities in violation of the Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act, 2007.

The convicts, Samuel Sunday, and Saheed Lawal Akanji, alongside his company, Saaskrona Nigeria Limited, were prosecuted by the Ilorin Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) before Justice Abimbola Awogboro.

According to a statement issued by the EFCC, the convictions followed credible intelligence indicating that some individuals were unlawfully processing and dealing in solid minerals in Kwara State without the required licences.

Acting on the intelligence, EFCC operatives conducted surveillance, leading to the arrest of the suspects at separate locations in Eiyenkorin.

Sunday was arrested at his factory in the Olorunda area, beside the Deeper Life Camp, while Akanji was apprehended at his company's factory opposite Ojaja University along Passa Road.

Investigations revealed that the defendants were illegally processing and possessing solid minerals, including Smithsonite, Calcite, Anhydrite, Tennantite and Quartz, without the permits required under the Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act, 2007.

The defendants pleaded guilty to the charges when they were arraigned before the court.

Following their guilty pleas, EFCC counsel Rashidat Alao presented the facts of the case and tendered documentary evidence, including the minerals recovered during the investigation.

Justice Awogboro subsequently sentenced Samuel Sunday to 12 months' imprisonment with an option of a N2 million fine. The court also ordered the forfeiture of 140 tonnes of mineral ore recovered from his site to the Federal Government.

Saheed Lawal Akanji was also sentenced to 12 months' imprisonment with an option of a N1 million fine, while Saaskrona Nigeria Limited was fined N1 million.

In addition, the court ordered the forfeiture of 90 tonnes of minerals recovered from the company's premises to the Federal Government.