A Federal High Court in Ilorin has convicted two men and fined a company over Kwara illegal mining activities involving unlicensed mineral processing.
Justice Abimbola Awogboro sentenced Samuel Sunday and Saheed Lawal Akanji to 12 months in prison after they pleaded guilty to separate charges.
The court also imposed a N1 million fine on Saaskrona Nigeria Limited, a company linked to Akanji.
According to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, the convictions followed investigations by its Ilorin Zonal Directorate.
The EFCC disclosed the judgment in a statement published on its official Facebook page on Thursday.
The commission said the defendants processed and traded solid minerals without licences required under the Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act, 2007.
Intelligence leads to Kwara illegal mining arrests
The EFCC said it received information about individuals processing and selling minerals illegally in parts of Kwara State.
Its operatives launched surveillance operations based on the intelligence and later arrested the suspects at separate factories in Eiyenkorin, Ilorin.
Officials arrested Sunday at a factory in the Olorunda area, beside Deeper Life Camp.
They arrested Akanji at another factory opposite Ojaja University along Passa Road.
Investigators found that the defendants dealt in several minerals without government approval.
The recovered minerals included Smithsonite, Calcite, Anhydrite, Tennantite and Quartz.
“Their journey to jail followed credible intelligence received by the Commission,” the EFCC said.
The agency added that the suspects processed and traded minerals without obtaining the necessary licences.
Court admits recovered minerals as evidence
The defendants pleaded guilty when the EFCC presented the charges before the court.
EFCC counsel Rashidat Alao then reviewed the facts of each case.
She also submitted documents and samples of the recovered minerals as evidence.
The court admitted the exhibits before delivering its judgment.
Justice Awogboro sentenced Sunday to one year in prison but gave him the option of paying a N2 million fine.
The judge also ordered him to forfeit 140 tonnes of mineral ore recovered from his factory.
The minerals will now become the property of the Federal Government.
Akanji also received a 12-month prison sentence with the option of a N1 million fine.
The court ordered Saaskrona Nigeria Limited to pay an additional N1 million fine.
It also directed the company to forfeit 90 tonnes of recovered minerals to the Federal Government.
The EFCC said the prosecution formed part of its efforts to tackle unlawful mining and protect Nigeria’s mineral resources.
Illegal mining remains a major concern because unlicensed operators often avoid safety, environmental and revenue regulations.
