The Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has secured the conviction of two Chinese nationals, Zhang Lin and Gao Hai, over illegal mining and the unlawful export of Nigeria’s solid mineral resources.
The duo was convicted by Justice Akintayo Aluko of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, after pleading guilty to a five-count charge bordering on conspiracy and the illegal possession and exportation of solid minerals without lawful authorisation.
According to the EFCC, the defendants conspired to export mica products, copper-bearing and lithium-bearing mineral resources from Nigeria without obtaining the required approval from the appropriate authorities, thereby depriving the Federal Government of revenue.
One of the charges stated that the suspects unlawfully engaged in the export of mineral resources in violation of the Miscellaneous Offences Act, 1983.
Following their guilty pleas, EFCC prosecutor H. U. Kofarnaisa presented the investigating officer, Matthew Orogwu, who reviewed the facts of the case and tendered documentary evidence before the court.
After considering the evidence, Justice Aluko convicted both defendants on all five counts.
The court sentenced each of the two Chinese nationals to five years’ imprisonment on each count, with an option of a ₦50 million fine covering all five counts.
In addition, the court ordered that all recovered mineral resources be forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
