Ilorin Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has secured the conviction of two persons and a company for engaging in illegal mining activities in contravention of the Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act, 2007.
The convicts, Samuel Sunday, who was arraigned on a one-count charge, and Saheed Lawal Akanji alongside his company, Saaskrona Nigeria Limited, who were separately arraigned on a two-count charge, were prosecuted before Justice Abimbola Awogboro of the Federal High Court sitting in Ilorin.
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.
Acting on the intelligence, EFCC operatives carried out surveillance, which led to the arrest of a number of suspects. While Sunday was arrested at his factory located in the Olorunda Area, beside Deeper Life Camp, Eiyenkorin, Akanji was arrested at his factory opposite Ojaja University, along Passa Road, Eiyenkorin, Kwara State.
Investigations revealed that the defendants were unlawfully dealing in and processing various solid minerals, including Smithsonite, Calcite, Anhydrite, Tennantite, and Quartz, without the licences required under the Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act, 2007.
The defendants, upon arraignment, pleaded guilty to their respective charges.
Following the guilty pleas, counsel to the EFCC, Rashidat Alao, reviewed the facts of the cases and tendered documentary evidence as well as the minerals recovered during the investigation.
In her judgment, Justice Awogboro sentenced Sunday to 12 months’ imprisonment or an option of a fine of N2 million. The court also ordered the forfeiture of the 140 tonnes of mineral ore recovered at his site to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
Similarly, Akanji was sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment or an option of a fine of N1 million, while Saaskrona Nigeria Limited was fined N1 million.
The court also ordered the forfeiture of the 90 tonnes of minerals recovered from the company’s site to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
