By Fatima Muhammad Tanko –
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, said it has secured conviction against four Chinese nationals after they were sentenced to 20 years imprisonment by the Jos division of the Federal High Court.
Disclosing the conviction in a statement on its verifiable X Social media handle, the EFCC said Justice Dorcas Agishi, in her judgement, convicted Liang Quin Yong, Wang Huajie, Zhong Jiajing and Long Kechong for illegal mining of solid minerals in the state.
The statement said: “The defendants were arrested on March 8, 2025 at JLM Mining company site following credible intelligence on activities of some Chinese suspected to be involved in illegal mining activities in Jos, Plateau State.”
According to the statement, each of the accused faced a separate one-count charge for the unlawful purchase and possession of mineral resources without lawful authority, in violation of Section 1(8)(b) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act, 1983. Upon arraignment, all four pleaded guilty.
Prosecuting counsels from the EFCC, M.O. Arumemi and F.A.I. Asemebo, urged the court to convict the defendants, having established their culpability beyond reasonable doubt.
Justice Agishi, delivering her judgment, sentencing each of the convicts to five years in prison or an option of a fine of N1,000,000.
In addition to the sentence, the judge ordered their deportation and permanent ban from re-entering Nigeria.
Further, the court ordered the forfeiture of all proceeds of crime to the Federal Government.
Specifically, Liang Quin Yong was directed to forfeit N134,874,769.01—proceeds from illegal mineral purchases.
All mineral resources recovered during the investigation were also confiscated.
Additionally, an administrative fine of N16,300,000 was imposed for the failure to report financial transactions to the Special Control Unit against Money Laundering, SCUML, as required under Section 11(1)(b) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
