Court Jails Two Chinese Nationals for Illegal Mining in Kwara

A Federal High Court sitting in Ilorin, Kwara State, has convicted and sentenced two Chinese nationals, Yang Chao and Wu Shan Chuan, for their involvement in illegal mining activities.

Justice Abimbola Awogboro delivered the verdict on Friday, March 7, 2025, after the two men, along with their company, Crius Chemical Nigeria Limited, were found guilty of violating the Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act.

The two Chinese nationals were charged with a one-count offence related to the illegal dealing of solid minerals without the necessary legal authority. According to the charge, the defendants, Yang Chao, Wu Shan Chuan, and Crius Chemical Nigeria Limited, engaged in the illegal mining of solid minerals in Kwara State in March 2024, thereby committing an offence under Section 134(b) of the Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act, 2007.

Upon hearing the charge, the defendants pleaded guilty, leading to a review of the case by EFCC counsel, Sesan Ola. The court was presented with evidence, including the defendants' extra-judicial statements, a report from the Nigeria Geological Survey Agency, and their passports, all of which were admitted into evidence.

Justice Awogboro, after carefully reviewing the evidence presented, found that the prosecution had proven the case beyond a reasonable doubt. She convicted and sentenced each of the two men to two years imprisonment or an option of a N1 million fine. The same fine was also imposed on Crius Chemical Nigeria Limited, the company involved in the illegal mining activities.

In addition to the prison sentences or fines, the court ordered the convicts to remit N14 million in royalties to the federal government as restitution for the illegal activities. Furthermore, all solid minerals discovered at the company's premises, located at No. 1, Idi Ope Road, along Ogunmakin-Odede Road, Omi, Ogun State, were forfeited to the federal government.

This conviction marks a significant step in the Nigerian government's ongoing efforts to combat illegal mining, a practice that has been linked to environmental degradation and the loss of government revenues. The case serves as a reminder of the consequences of unlawful mining and the importance of compliance with Nigeria’s mining regulations.