The Federal High Court sitting in Ilorin, Kwara State, has convicted and sentenced two individuals and imposed a fine on a company for engaging in illegal mining activities in violation of the Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act, 2007.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission disclosed the convictions in a statement posted on its official Facebook page on Thursday, stating that the judgment followed the successful prosecution of the defendants by its Ilorin Zonal Directorate.
The convicts, Samuel Sunday and Saheed Lawal Akanji, alongside Akanji’s company, Saaskrona Nigeria Limited, were arraigned before Justice Abimbola Awogboro on separate charges bordering on unlawful dealing in and processing of solid minerals without the requisite licences.
According to the EFCC, the prosecution followed credible intelligence that some individuals were illegally processing and trading in solid minerals in parts of Kwara State without obtaining the licences required by law.
The Commission said its operatives conducted surveillance based on the intelligence, leading to the arrest of the suspects at separate locations in Eiyenkorin, Ilorin.
Sunday was arrested at his factory located in the Olorunda area, beside Deeper Life Camp, while Akanji was apprehended at his factory opposite Ojaja University, along Passa Road.
“Their journey to jail followed credible intelligence received by the Commission, alleging that some individuals were illegally dealing in and processing solid minerals in Kwara State without the requisite licences,” the EFCC said.
The anti-graft agency said investigations revealed that the defendants were unlawfully processing and dealing in various solid minerals, including Smithsonite, Calcite, Anhydrite, Tennantite and Quartz, contrary to the provisions of the Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act, 2007.
When arraigned before the court, the defendants pleaded guilty to the charges.
Following their guilty pleas, EFCC counsel, Rashidat Alao, reviewed the facts of the cases and tendered documentary exhibits, including the minerals recovered during investigation. The exhibits were admitted in evidence by the court.
Delivering judgment, Justice Awogboro sentenced Samuel Sunday to 12 months’ imprisonment, with an option of ₦2 million fine.
The court also ordered the forfeiture of 140 tonnes of mineral ore recovered from Sunday’s site to the Federal Government.
Akanji was also sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment, with an option of ₦1 million fine, while Saaskrona Nigeria Limited was ordered to pay a ₦1 million fine.
The convictions bring the total minerals ordered forfeited to the Federal Government in the case to 230 tonnes.
The convictions bring the total minerals ordered forfeited to the Federal Government in the case to 230 tonnes.