Two Chinese Jailed Five Years Each for Illegal Mining in Lagos

Our Reporter 

The Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has secured the conviction of two Chinese nationals, Zhang Hong Lin and Gao Pei Hai, for conspiracy and illegal mining-related offences.

The duo was convicted by Justice Akintayo Aluko of the Federal High Court, Ikoyi, Lagos, after pleading guilty to a five-count charge bordering on conspiracy and the unlawful possession and attempted export of solid minerals without lawful authority.

According to the EFCC, the defendants conspired with another suspect, Gao Pei Yu, who is currently at large, to illegally export mica, copper-bearing and lithium-bearing mineral resources from Nigeria in 2025 without the approval of the appropriate authorities, thereby defrauding the Federal Government of revenue.

Following their guilty pleas, the prosecution counsel, H.U. Kofarnaisa, presented the investigating officer, Matthew Orogwu, who reviewed the facts of the case and tendered documentary evidence before the court.

The prosecution subsequently urged the court to convict and sentence the defendants in accordance with the law.

Delivering judgment, Justice Aluko found both defendants guilty on all five counts and sentenced each of them to five years' imprisonment on each count, with an option of a ₦50 million fine covering all the counts.

The court also ordered the forfeiture of the recovered mineral resources to the Federal Government of Nigeria.

The EFCC said the conviction underscores its commitment to combating illegal mining and protecting Nigeria's mineral resources from unlawful exploitation.