By Enyichukwu Enemanna
Two Chinese nationals, Duan Ya Hong and Xiao Yi have bagged one-year jail sentence for offences bordering on illegal mining and possession of solid minerals without requisite licenses, an Ilorin Federal High Court rules.
Also arraigned before Justice Evelyn Anyadike was their company Ebuy Concept Limited on one-count charge bordering on illegal mining, anti-graft agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) says.
They were first arraigned on Monday, April 22, 2024 and their sentence handed on Wednesday, May 15.
“That you, Ebuy Trading Worldwide Nig. LTD, Duan Ya Hong, Xiao Yi sometime in the Month of February 2024 at Banni, in Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State, within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court, without lawful authority, purchased minerals to wit; 30 tons of minerals conveyed in a Truck, with Registration Number JJJ 386 XT and thereby committed an offence, contrary to and punishable under Section 1(8)(b) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act 1984”, the lone-count charge reads in part.
They were granted bail in the sum of N5million naira with two sureties each in like sum after they pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The court also ordered that they be remanded in the custody of the EFCC till they perfect the conditions to enjoy the bail.
When the case came up on Tuesday, the defendants who were yet to perfect their bail, opted to plead guilty to count one of the amended 11-count charge and entered a plea of not guilty to the remaining counts, prompting the court to adjourn till Wednesday for a review of facts and possible conviction.
At the resumed sitting on Wednesday, counsel to the EFCC, Innocent Mbachie, reviewed the facts of the case and tendered in evidence, the extra-judicial statements of the defendants, photographs of the defendants, samples of the minerals, photographs of the truck and the forensic report received from the Nigeria Geological Survey Agency on the analysis of the minerals.
The defendants, represented by I.A Ahmed, raised no objection to the admissibility of the exhibits tendered by the prosecution; hence, they were admitted in evidence by the court.
Justice Anyadike in her decision therefore held that the prosecution had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt and pronounced them guilty as charged.
Consequently, the judge sentenced Hong to one year imprisonment with an option of fine of N2million, while Yi on the other hand was sentenced to one year imprisonment with an option of N1.5million.
Additionally, the court ordered the interim forfeiture of the 30 tons of minerals and the truck used in conveying it.
Heritage Times HT recalls that since early 2020, several Chinese nationals have been arrested in Nigeria for their involvement in illegal mining.
Despite Nigeria’s richness in mineral deposits such as barite, bitumen, iron ore, lead, zinc, coal, limestone and gold, the country’s efforts to diversify the economy from oil has yielded minimal results.
This is attributable to activities of illegal miners, which has some foreign elements, particularly Chinese nationals.
