The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Wednesday arraigned two suspected illegal miners before Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke at the High Court in Lagos.
The EFCC’s Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 brought a five-count charge against the defendants, accusing them of unlawful possession and export of mineral resources.
One of the charges stated: “You, Zhang Hong Lin, Gao Pei Hai, and Gao Pei Yu (currently at large), in 2025 in Lagos, conspired to defraud the Federal Government of Nigeria by exporting mica, copper-bearing, and lithium-bearing mineral resources without approval. This act contravenes Section 8(a) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act, 1983, and is punishable under the same Act.”
The accused pleaded not guilty.
Following their plea, prosecution counsel Bilkisu Buhari requested a trial date and asked the court to remand the defendants in a correctional facility.
Defence counsel Jeremiah Okoro urged the court to allow his clients remain in EFCC custody pending a bail hearing. However, the judge dismissed the request and ordered their remand in a correctional centre.
Justice Aneke adjourned the trial to July 4, 2025.
EFCC operatives had arrested the two Chinese nationals on May 9, 2025 along with six Nigerian suspects in the Ogere area of Ogun State during a sting operation based on credible intelligence and surveillance.
At the time of arrest, the operatives recovered three trucks loaded with sacks of substances suspected to be ground lithium powder and other unidentified solid minerals. Additional items included a Toyota 4Runner SUV, mobile phones, suspected low-grade lithium samples, ATM cards, passports, LED flashlights, and various documents related to the investigation.