A Federal High Court in Ilorin has sentenced two Chinese nationals, Yang Chao and Wu Shan Chuan, to two years in prison each for engaging in illegal mining of solid minerals in Kwara State.
The judgment, delivered by Justice Abimbola Awogboro on March 7, 2025, also convicted their company, Crius Chemical Nigeria Limited, for the same offence.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission had prosecuted the two men on a one-count charge of dealing in solid minerals without lawful authority.
The charge read: “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.”
When the charge was read, both Yang Chao and Wu Shan Chuan pleaded guilty.
Following their plea, EFCC counsel, Sesan Ola, presented evidence to the court, including the defendants’ extra-judicial statements, a report from the Nigeria Geological Survey Agency, and their passports, all of which were admitted as evidence.
After reviewing the facts, Justice Awogboro ruled that the prosecution had proven its case beyond a reasonable doubt. The court then sentenced the two Chinese nationals to two years imprisonment each or the option of paying a N1 million fine.
The judge also imposed a N1 million fine on Crius Chemical Nigeria Limited.
In addition, the court ordered the convicts to pay N14 million in royalties to the federal government. All solid minerals found at their company premises, located at No. 1, Idi Ope Road, along Ogunmakin-Odede Road, Omi, Ogun State, were forfeited to the federal government.
This ruling comes amid ongoing efforts by the Nigerian government to curb illegal mining activities, which have been a growing concern for the country’s economy.
