Justice Abimbola Awogboro of the Federal High Court in Ilorin has handed down convictions to two individuals and a corporate entity involved in the illicit extraction and transportation of solid minerals. The verdict follows successful prosecution by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which brought the suspects to justice for violating federal statutes regarding resource management and financial compliance.
The defendants, identified as Abdullahi Dauda, Mohammed Aminu, and the Great River Mining Company Limited, faced charges related to the unlawful possession of mineral resources. Investigations conducted by the anti-graft agency revealed that Mr. Dauda was apprehended while transporting 18 tonnes of minerals in a truck, while the corporate entity and Mr. Aminu were found in unauthorized possession of 40.23 tonnes of lead ore.
During the court proceedings, the prosecution team, led by Innocent Mbachie and Mustapha Kaigama, cited breaches of the Miscellaneous Offences Act, specifically Section 1(18)(b), and Section 18(2)(d) of the Money Laundering Act. Faced with the evidence presented, the defendants entered guilty pleas, leading the prosecution to request an immediate conviction in line with the gravity of the offences.
In her ruling, Justice Awogboro sentenced Mr. Dauda to 12 months in prison, though the court granted him an alternative of a N1 million fine. Great River Mining Company Limited and Mr. Aminu were similarly sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment each, with the option of a N1 million fine for each party.
Beyond the custodial sentences and fines, the court imposed severe punitive measures regarding the tools used in the illicit trade. The owner of the truck utilized for the illegal transportation was ordered to pay a fine of N5 million. Furthermore, the presiding judge ordered the permanent forfeiture of the seized solid minerals to the Federal Government of Nigeria, effectively stripping the convicts of their illicit assets.
Source: NaijaProbe