Court jails two Chinese nationals five years each in Lagos for illegal mining

A federal high court in Lagos has remanded four individuals in custody following their plea of guilt over allegations of money laundering linked to a $5.29 million fraud scheme. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arraigned the suspects, Bamidele Ayodele Emmanuel, Abdullah Oriyomi, Garuba Fathiat Funmilayo, and Gbenro Victor Ademola, before Justice F. N. Ogazi in separate proceedings. Each faced two-count charges under the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, for retaining illicit funds in their respective bank accounts. Emmanuel's specific charge detailed that he retained $826,691 in his Wema Bank account between January 1 and 31, 2025, despite knowledge that the funds originated from an unlawful act. The charge outlined that the amount was deposited into account number 0126008755, which the court deemed part of the proceeds of an unlawful activity. All four defendants pleaded guilty upon hearing the charges read aloud. EFCC counsel Bilkisu Buhari presented evidence during the court session, revealing that the defendants had provided their personal information to an individual identified as Afeez Animashaun. This person allegedly approached them at Mushin Market, Lagos, where they operated their businesses. The information was subsequently used to incorporate multiple companies, including College Compass Eduguide Nigeria Limited, Hortifresh Solutions Nigeria Limited, Eduboost Innovation Nigeria Limited, and Fixit Hardware and Tools Nigeria Limited. These incorporated entities facilitated the opening of corporate bank accounts, which were then utilized to receive substantial sums in U.S. dollars during January 2025. According to the prosecution, these actions allowed the real operators of the companies to remain anonymous while enabling the transfer of suspicious funds through the Nigerian financial system. Buhari requested the court to convict the defendants and impose suitable penalties. Justice Ogazi ordered the defendants' remand in a correctional facility and scheduled the case for judgment on August 4, 2026. The court did not immediately determine the sentences, leaving that decision for the future hearing. Separately, another legal proceeding saw the conviction of two Chinese nationals, Zhang Hong Lin and Gao Pei Hai, who were sentenced to 25 years in prison each for offenses related to the illegal export of Nigeria's strategic mineral resources. Judge Akintayo Aluko presided over the trial in the Federal High Court in Lagos, finding both defendants guilty on all five counts filed by the EFCC. These counts included conspiracy, unlawful possession, and attempted exportation of strategic minerals without proper authorization. The court imposed a 25-year sentence on each count, with the possibility of a ₦10 million fine per count. Additionally, the court mandated the forfeiture of all mineral resources involved in the case to the Federal Government. A third suspect, Gao Pei Yu, remains at large. The charges against the two Chinese nationals stemmed from an incident in 2025, where they allegedly conspired to defraud the Federal Government of revenue by exporting strategic mineral resources without the necessary approvals. The prosecution highlighted that the minerals involved included mica minerals like Muscovite and Lepidolite, lithium-bearing ores such as Spodumene and Petalite, and other minerals associated with copper deposits, including Bornite and Cuprite, along with Anhydrite, Quartz, and Magnesite. Judge Aluko concluded that the EFCC had sufficiently proven its case against the two convicted individuals, leading to their convictions. Following the sentencing, the court ordered the recovery of the mineral resources involved in the case and their subsequent forfeiture to the government. The recent convictions follow a series of enforcement actions taken by Nigerian authorities against suspected illegal mining operations involving Chinese nationals. In 2023, the EFCC arrested 13 Chinese nationals in Ilorin, Kwara State, for alleged involvement in illegal mining activities. These actions were part of broader efforts aimed at curbing illegal mining and the unauthorized export of mineral resources from the country. In 2024, reports indicated that the Bani community in Kwara State had emerged as a hub for illegal lithium mining. Investigations suggested that the increasing trade in this area attracted various stakeholders, raising concerns about how illegal operators managed to extract and transport the valuable mineral. These developments underscore the ongoing challenges faced by Nigerian authorities in regulating and controlling the extraction and export of strategic mineral resources.