Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 of EFCC has secured conviction of two Chinese, Zhang Hong Lin and Gao Pei Hai, before Justice Akintayo Aluko of Federal High Court Ikoyi, Lagos, for conspiracy and illegal mining of solid minerals.
The defendants were arraigned on five-count charge bordering on conspiracy and unlawful possession of minerals for export without authority.
The Charge was that in 2025 in Lagos they conspired to defraud Federal Government of revenue by exporting mica, copper-bearing and lithium-bearing minerals without permission, offence contrary to Section 1(8)(a) of Miscellaneous Offences Act 1983.
They pleaded guilty. Prosecution counsel H.U. Kofarnaisa called investigating officer Matthew Orogwu who reviewed facts and tendered evidence.
Justice Aluko found both guilty on all five counts and sentenced each to five years imprisonment on each count, with option of N50 million fine covering all five counts.
The Court also ordered forfeiture of recovered mineral resources to Federal Government. One accomplice Gao Pei Yu still at large.
