The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Wednesday arraigned two suspected illegal miners before Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke of the Federal High Court in Lagos.
The defendants, Zhang Hong Lin and Gao Pei Hai, were charged by the Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 of the EFCC on a five-count indictment related to unlawful possession and exportation of mineral resources.
One of the charges states: “That you, Zhang Hong Lin, Gao Pei Hai, and Gao Pei Yu (at large), sometime in 2025 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, conspired with intent to defraud the Federal Government of Nigeria of revenue accruing therefrom, and without the permission of the appropriate authority, engaged in the exportation of ‘Mica products, copper bearing and lithium bearing mineral resources’ out of Nigeria, thereby committing an offence contrary to Section 8(a) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act, 1983, and punishable under Section 8 of the same Act.”
The defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Following their plea, the prosecution counsel, Bilkisu Buhari, requested a trial date and asked the court to remand the defendants in a correctional facility. The defense counsel, Jeremiah Okoro, requested that the defendants be held in EFCC custody pending the hearing of their bail application.
Justice Aneke denied the defense’s request, ordering that the defendants be remanded in a correctional centre. The trial was adjourned to July 4, 2025, for commencement.
The two Chinese nationals were arrested by EFCC operatives on May 9, 2025, alongside six Nigerians in connection with illegal mining activities in the Ogere area of Ogun State.
The suspects — Zhang Hong Lin, Gao Pei Hai, Matthew Mathias, Oluwaseun Amoo, Wasiu Ademola Alao, Ajibola Nurudeen, Ibrahim Yinusa, and Saidu Shuaibu — were apprehended during a sting operation following credible intelligence and extensive surveillance.
At the time of arrest, officers recovered three trucks loaded with sacks containing substances suspected to be ground lithium powder, along with other unidentified solid minerals.
Additional items seized include a Toyota 4Runner SUV, mobile phones, samples of suspected low-grade lithium, ATM cards, passports, four LED flashlights, and various documents pertinent to the investigation.
