Friday, May 16, 2025 - Four Chinese men have been convicted and sentenced for illegal mining of solid minerals in Plateau State.
Justice Dorcas.V. Agishi of the Federal High Court, Jos,
Plateau State, sentenced Liang Quin Yong, Wang Huajie, Zhong Jiajing and Long
Kechong to twenty years imprisonment.
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 seperate charge
bordering on dealing in illegal solid minerals mining.
The charge against Liang Quin Yong reads; "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.
For Wang Huajie, his charge reads; "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 reads; "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.
The charge against Long Kechong reads; "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(One
Million Naira only) each for unlawful purchase and possession of mineral
resources.
The judge also ordered 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 (One Hundred and Thirty-Four Million, Eight Hundred and Seventy-Four
Thousand, Seven Hundred and Sixty-Nine Naira, one kobo) which formed the
proceeds of the unlawful purchase of the mineral resources.
Additionally, ustice Agishi orderd the forfeiture of
the entire mineral resources recovered in the course of investigation and the
sum of N16, 300,000.00(Sixteen Million, Three Hundred Thousand Naira) 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.
All the convicts bagged their imprisonment when they were
arraigned before the court for illegal dealing in solid minerals. They
pleaded guilty to the charges and were convicted.
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