Eric Patrick
Justice Dorcas V. Agishi of the Federal High Court sitting in Jos, Plateau State has convicted and sentenced four Chinese to twenty years imprisonment for illegal mining of solid minerals in Plateau State.
The convicts are Liang Quin Yong, Wang Huajie, Zhong Jiajing and Long Kechong.
The Economy and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) made this known in a statement shared on its Facebook page on Thursday.
According to the Anti-graft agency, the defendants were arrested on March 8, 2025 at JLM Mining company site following credible intelligence on activities of some Chinese suspected to be involved in illegal mining activities in Jos, Plateau State.
They were each prosecuted on a one-count separate charge bordering on dealing in illegal solid minerals mining.
The charge against Liang Quin Yong read, “That you, Liang Quin Yong on or about the 9th of March, at Dura Rayfield axis of Jos, Plateau State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did commit an offence to wit; without lawful authority engaged in the purchase of Minerals Resources and thereby committted an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 1(8)(b) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act, 1983.
Wang Huajie, charge read, “That you, Wang Huajie on or about 9th of March, at Dura Rayfield axis of Jos, Plateau State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did commit an offence to wit; without lawful authority engaged in the purchase of Mineral Resources and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 1(8)(b) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act 1983.
The charge against Zhong Jiajing read, “Thay you, Zhong Jiajing on or about on or about 9th of March, at Dura Rayfield axis of Jos, Plateau State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did commit an offence to wit; without lawful authority engaged in the purchase of Mineral Resources and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 1(8)(b) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act 1983.
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The charge against Long Kechong read, “That you, Long Kechong on or about 9th of March, at Dura Rayfield axis of Jos, Plateau State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did commit an offence to wit; without lawful authority engaged in the purchase of Mineral Resources and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 1(8)(b) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act 1983.
They pleaded guilty when the charges were read to them, following which EFCC counsel, M.O. Arumemi and F.A.I Asemebo prayed the court to convict them accordingly.
Satisfied that the prosecution has proven the case beyond reasonable doubts, Justice Agishi found the defendants guilty and sentenced the four Chinese to five years imprisonment each or pay a fine of N1,000,000 each for unlawful purchase and possession of mineral resources
The judge also orderand that the convicts be deported from Nigeria and banned from re-entering the country.
All proceeds of crime are to be forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria while Liang Quin Yong is to forfeit the sum of N134,874,769.01 which formed the proceeds of the unlawful purchase of the mineral resources,
Additionally, Justice Agishi orderd the forfeiture of the entire mineral resources recovered in the course of investigation and the sum of N16, 300,000.00 as administrative fine for failure to report a financial transaction within seven days to the Special Control Unit against Money Laundering(SCUML) as provided under Section 11(1)(b) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
