By editor
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Justice Dorcas .V. Agishi of the Federal High Court , Jos, Plateau State has convicted and sentenced four Chinese: Liang Quin Yong, Wang Huajie, Zhong Jiajing and Long Kechong to twenty years imprisonment for illegal mining of solid minerals in Plateau State.
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, Justice 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.
