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Two Chinese nationals, Zhang Hong Lin and Gao Pei Hai, have been sentenced to five years in prison each for conspiracy and illegal mining-related offences in Lagos, according to reports.
The Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) secured their conviction before Justice Akintayo Aluko of the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos.
The defendants were arraigned on a five-count charge bordering on conspiracy and the unlawful possession and attempted exportation of mineral resources, including mica products, copper-bearing, and lithium-bearing minerals, without lawful authority. They pleaded guilty to all charges and were also given an option of a ₦50 million fine.
Key Points:
The conviction sends a strong warning to illegal miners and mineral smugglers operating in Nigeria.
The defendants were given an option of a ₦50 million fine covering all five counts.
The court also ordered the forfeiture of the recovered mineral resources to the Federal Government.
The EFCC’s enforcement signals increased scrutiny of illegal mining activities, especially by foreign nationals.
A third suspect, Gao Pei Yu, remains at large.
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