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 the illegal mining and exportation of solid minerals.
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 exportation of mineral resources without lawful authority.
According to the EFCC, the defendants conspired to unlawfully export mica products, copper-bearing, and lithium-bearing mineral resources from Nigeria without the approval of the appropriate authorities, thereby depriving the Federal Government of revenue.
One of the charges stated that the defendants, alongside Gao Pei Yu, who is currently at large, illegally engaged in the exportation of the mineral resources in 2025, contrary to the provisions of the Miscellaneous Offences Act, 1983.
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.
After considering the evidence, Justice Aluko convicted both defendants 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 all recovered mineral resources to the Federal Government of Nigeria.