CRIME & COURT

Nigerian Court jails Chinese for illegal mining

A Chinese, identified as Gang Deng, has been jailed five years for illegal mining in Kwara state, north-central Nigeria.

Deng, who is the managing director of Sinuo Xinyang Nigeria Ltd, reportedly confessed to the crime and was jailed by Justice Sani Muhammed based on his own terms.

However, Deng pleaded ‘not guilty’ for his company, which was arraigned alongside him.

The court then adjourned hearing in the convict’s company’s case till November 17, 2022.

On Deng’s case, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission said it arrested the convict along Tsaragi Road in Share, Edu Local Government Area of Kwara State on Friday, September 9, 2022.

“He was found to be in possession of 25 tons of minerals suspected to be Lepidolite, a raw material used for the production of batteries for vehicles, cell phones, cameras and other electronic devices,” said the EFCC.

In addition, the EFCC similarly reported the arrest, on August 30, 2022, of 13 suspected illegal miners in Kakafu village in Patigi Local Government Area of Kwara State.

TheCornet quotes the EFCC as saying that “mining without license is an act of economic sabotage, punishable under Section 1 (8) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act.”

The crime stipulates life imprisonment for offenders.

 

 

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