The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has secured the conviction of two Chinese, Yang Chao and Wu Shan Chuan, for illegal mining of solid minerals in Kwara State, Nigeria.
They were convicted along with their company, Crius Chemical Nigeria Limited, located at No. 1, Idi Ope Road, along Ogunmakin-Odede Road, Omi, Ogun State.
Consequently, the convicts were sentenced to two years each by Justice Abimbola Awogboro of the Federal High Court, Ilorin, on Friday, March 7, 2025.
They were prosecuted by the EFCC on a one-count charge, bordering on dealing with illegal solid minerals mining.
The charge reads: “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.”
The pleaded “guilty” when the charge was read to them.
Counsel to the EFCC, Sesan Ola, thereafter 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 has proven its case beyond reasonable doubts, Justice Awogboro, found the defendants guilty, convicted and sentenced them to two years imprisonment each.
He, however, gave them an option of ₦1 million fine respectively. The ₦1 million fine was also extended to the company.
In addition to their sentences, the convicts are to remit the sum of ₦14million in royalties to the Federal Government, while all solid minerals found in the premises of the company, were forfeited to the Federal Government.
