A Federal High Court sitting in Ilorin, the capital of Kwara State has sentenced a Chinese national, Gang Deng to five years imprisonment.
The 29-year-old was convicted for offences bordering on illegal mining and possession of minerals without lawful authority.
Operatives of the Ilorin Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arrested the convict in Share, Edu Local Government Area of the state on Friday, September 9, 2022.
Men of the anti-graft agency found 25 tons of minerals suspected to be Lepidolite, a raw material used for the production of batteries for vehicles, cell phones, cameras and other electronic devices in his possession.
The Chinese National who is the Managing Director of Sinuo Xinyang Nigeria Ltd, confessed to the crime.
READ ALSO:Herdsmen attack: Policeman, others killed in Benue community
Consequently, the Ilorin Command of the EFCC arraigned Gang alongside his company Sinuo Xinyang Nigeria Ltd on one count amended charge before Justice Muhammed Sani. When the charge was read to the defendant, he pleaded guilty but entered a “not guilty plea” for his company.
The charge reads: “That you, Sinuo Xinyang Nigeria Ltd and Gang Deng, sometime in the Month of September 2022 at Share, along Tsaragi Road in Edu Local Government Area of Kwara State, within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court, without lawful authority purchased mineral to wit, 25 Tons of Mineral worth the sum of N2,490,000.00 (Two Million, Four Hundred and Ninety Thousand Naira) conveyed in a DAF Truck, with registered number KLRAD85XCOE603462 and thereby committed an Offence, contrary and punishable under Section 1 (8) (b) of Miscellaneous Offences Act 1984”
Upon his plea, counsel to the EFCC, Innocent Mbachie reviewed the facts of the case and tendered documents, which were admitted in evidence. He urged the court to convict the defendant as charged.
Consequently, the court sentenced Gang to 5 years imprisonment with an option of a N1million fine. The judge also ordered that the 25 tons of the mineral recovered from him at the point of arrest be forfeited to the Federal Government.
The court thereafter adjourned till November 17, 2022 for a hearing in the case of the convict’s company, Sinuo Xinyang Nigeria Ltd.
Mining without a license is a criminal offence under the law. It is an act of economic sabotage, punishable under Section 1 (8) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act, which stipulates life imprisonment for offenders.