Two men were convicted of illegal mining and unlawful transport of mineral resources in Ilorin, Kwara State, and each was sentenced to one year in prison and fined a combined N12 million.
Mohammed Umar was arrested on 5 February 2024 in Share, Patigi Local Government Area after police seized 40 tonnes of minerals from a truck registered AAA 998 XH. The offence violated Section 1(8)(b) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act, 1984.
Usman Ishaku faced a similar charge in February 2026, when authorities seized 20 metric tonnes of minerals from a truck bearing registration GSW 410 XA. His case was brought under Section 134(b) of the Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act, 2007.
Both defendants pleaded guilty before Justice Abimbola Awogboro, who sentenced each to one year in prison with an option to pay a N1 million fine. The court also ordered the forfeiture of the seized minerals and imposed a N5 million compensation payment to the Federal Government through the EFCC on each case, bringing the total fine to N12 million.
“The admissions and evidence presented establish the offences against them,” said EFCC counsel M.M. Kaigama, urging the court to convict the defendants.
The convictions highlight the EFCC’s continued campaign to curb illegal exploitation and transport of mineral resources, which deprives the government of revenue and undermines the country’s mining sector.
<small>Source: The Sun Nigeria — read the original story there.</small>
