Two Chinese Caught Stealing Nigeria’s Minerals In Ogun

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested two Chinese men for illegal mining activities in Kwara State.

The suspects were arrested by operatives of the agency’s Ilorin Zonal Command.

According to the EFCC spokesman, Dele Oyewale, on Sunday, the suspects Yang Chao, 39, and Xiao Jiang, 38, were arrested alongside one Chidi Joseph Osuji, a 48-year-old man suspected to be an accomplice in the illegal business.

Oyewale said the three suspects were arrested after the Commission was hinted about their activities and trailed them to their mining sites located at Ogunmakin and Ogere, Ogun State.

The spokesman noted that after days of surveillance, the suspects were finally arrested.

“Preliminary investigations showed that Chao and Chidi are working as factory manager and machine operators respectively with Cruis Chemical Nigeria Limited located at Ogunmakin in Ogun State, while Jiang works with John Odiba Multibiz as an assistant manager in Ogere, Ogun State,” Oyewale said.

He said the suspects operate as a cartel and allegedly specialise in the illegal mining of minerals such as marble stone, white powder, lithium and lepidolite, among others.

He also explained that they transport the minerals outside the country illegally.

“Investigations also linked the three suspects as owners of the solid minerals being conveyed by the 41 suspects arrested with truck loads of minerals at Share, Banni, Lade, Patigi and Okolowo in Kwara, and Igbeti and Ogbomosho in Oyo state by operatives of the Ilorin Zonal Command of the EFCC on on February 5, 2024.

“They were arrested for engaging in mining activities without requisite licences,” the spokesman said.

In a separate development, the EFCC said it has arraigned one Oluwabiyi Peace, owner of Just Series Nigeria Limited, for allegedly issuing a dud cheque worth N13m to a customer.

Oluwabiyi was arraigned before Justice O.A. Adeyemi of the Oyo State High Court, sitting in Ibadan.

She was arraigned on Wednesday alongside her company, Just Series Nigeria Limited, on a one-count charge bordering on the issuance of dishonoured cheque.

The lone-count charge reads: “That you Oluwabiyi Peace and Just Series Nigeria Limited, on or about the 29th of June, 2021 at Ibadan within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, issued First City Monument Bank Plc Cheque No. 0037862154, dated 29th of June, 2021 in the sum of N13, 000, 000.00, made payable to Nuru Bello, which when presented for payment within three months was dishonoured on the grounds that no funds or insufficient funds were standing to the credit of the account on which the Cheque was drawn, thereby committed the offence of issuance of dishonoured cheque contrary to Sections 1 (1) (a) and 1 (1) (i) of the Dishonoured Cheque (Offences) Act, Cap D 11 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.”

The accused had pleaded not guilty when the charge was read to her, and following her plea, the prosecution counsel Mabas Mabur asked the court to fix a trial date.

The counsel prayed the court to remand the defendant to a correctional centre.

However, defence counsel, A.A. Maisolati informed the court of a bail application filed and served on the prosecution on behalf of his client.

He also prayed the court to admit his client to bail in most liberal terms.

Justice Adeyemi subsequently admitted the defendant to bail in the sum of N5 million and two sureties in like sum.

The judge also ordered that the sureties be property owners in Oyo State.