Illegal Mining : Court Orders Final Forfeiture Of Mining Site, Trucks, Lithium Stones To FG

Justice Daniel Osiagor of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, on Friday, May 22, 2026, ordered the final forfeiture of properties recovered from Chinese and Nigerians involved in illegal mining activities in Ogun State to the Federal Government of Nigeria.

The forfeited assets include a mining site located behind the Baale’s Palace on Ileposo Street, adjacent to 59 Street, Ode-Remo, Ogun State; a Toyota 4Runner SUV with registration number AWE 261 AE; two trucks laden with substantial quantities of mica and lithium stones; and a 40-foot container containing substantial quantities of mica and lithium stones.

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The judge made the order, following a motion filed by the Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ikoyi, through its counsel, Bilkisu Buhari, seeking an order for the custody and disposal of the properties pursuant to Section 330 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015, and other relevant laws.

The Commission also sought an order empowering the EFCC, in collaboration with the Nigerian Geological Survey Agency and court officials, to dispose of the forfeited assets and deposit the proceeds into an interest-bearing account pending the conclusion of the criminal proceedings.

According to an affidavit deposed to by an EFCC operative, intelligence reports revealed that several individuals, including Chinese and Nigerians, were involved in the illegal mining and trade of mineral resources, particularly mica and lithium stones.

The affidavit further revealed that the syndicate mined and transported the mineral resources from various locations across Nigeria to a site in Ode-Remo Local Government Area of Ogun State, where the minerals were sorted, processed and prepared for export through Apapa Wharf and the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos.

It was also revealed that operatives of the Commission carried out a sting operation in the early hours of Friday, May 9, 2025, leading to the arrest of two Chinese alleged to be kingpins and six Nigerians at the mining site.

Items recovered during the operation included the Toyota SUV, three trucks loaded with substantial quantities of mica and lithium stones, as well as a 40-foot container containing 3,210 bags of the mineral resources.

According to the affidavit, the properties listed in the schedule were at risk of rapid deterioration due to the rainy season and were already losing economic value.

Court

It was also stated in the affidavit that the principal actors involved in the illegal activities had already been arraigned before the court on charges relating to the unauthorised dealing in mineral resources.

After reviewing the affidavit evidence and submissions by the Commission, Justice Osiagor granted the application and ordered the final forfeiture and disposal of the assets.

The judge also directed that the proceeds be paid into an interest-bearing account pending the criminal trial of the defendants. Eereporter.com

Umahi Directed Contractor Handling Abuja-Kaduna-Kano Road Project To Immediately Open The Roads To Ease Movement During Eid Al-Adha Festive

The Honourable Minister of Works, Senator Engr. David Umahi, CON, has directed the contractor handling the Abuja–Kaduna-Kano Road project, Infiouest Nigeria Limited to immediately open all sections of the road to ease the movement of commuters traveling during the Eid al-Adha festive period and ensure safer and smoother journeys.

The Minister is aware of the earlier accident that occurred along the road, which has now been completely cleared.

Umahi

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Security agencies have also been deployed to strategic points along the road to maintain law and order and ensure the safety of road users throughout the festive season.

Francis Nwaze, FIPMD
Senior Special Assistant to the Honourable Minister of Works (Media)
May 25, 2026. Eereporter.com

Olukoyede Charges Youths To Channel Creative Energies Into Productive Ventures

The Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ola Olukoyede, has charged youths across the country to channel their creative energies into productive and legitimate ventures rather than engaging in internet fraud and other corrupt practices.

Olukoyede gave the charge on Thursday, May 21, 2026, during the launch of the Integrity Club at NAOWA College School, Abuja.

Represented at the event by the Head, Public Interface Unit of the Commission, Assistant Commander of the EFCC, ACE I Tony Orilade, the EFCC Chairman described internet fraud as a despicable crime with no justification.

He advised the students to “channel their creative energies into useful engagements and not into dishonest and dubious means of cheating others of their resources,” stressing that “internet crimes are economic crimes and the penalties for them are stiff.”

Olukoyede described corruption as “the compromise of rules, regulations, policies, standards and directive principles of running a system,” adding that it is also “the deliberate use of public opportunities, resources and privileges for private gains.”

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He further enlightened the students on various offences under the investigative purview of the Commission, including money laundering, embezzlement, forgery, advance fee fraud, contract scam, employment scam, land and property fraud, tax fraud, internet fraud, stealing, bribery, procurement fraud and banking fraud.

Speaking on the objectives of the newly inaugurated Integrity Club, he stated that the club was established to promote openness and transparency, create awareness about the damaging effects of corruption, develop integrity and accountability among students, encourage information sharing with the EFCC, identify and confront corrupt tendencies and prepare members for future leadership responsibilities.

“Every form of internet fraud, such as romance scam, business email compromise, hacking, impersonation, forex scam and others are corrupt practices must not be found among you,” he said.

Also speaking at the event, the Head, Enlightenment and Re-Orientation Unit of the Commission, Assistant Commander of the EFCC II, ACE II Aisha Mohammed, urged the students to take ownership of their future by resisting peer pressure and corrupt tendencies.

According to her, the EFCC places more emphasis on prevention through enlightenment and re-orientation as part of efforts to combat economic and financial crimes in the country.

She disclosed that the Commission operates Integrity Clubs in primary and secondary schools as well as Zero Tolerance Clubs in tertiary institutions, while also collaborating with the National Youth Service Corps, faith-based organisations and civil society groups to promote integrity and ethical values.
“You have to focus, you have to go for what you want and what you want to be in the future,” she advised the students.

Mohammed further emphasized the importance of integrity in national development, reminding the students that their voices and actions matter in shaping a better society.
“You are very important, your voice matters. You must be good to your family, your community, your society, and Nigeria as a whole,” she said.

In his remarks, the Director of Administration, NAOWA College, Major F. E. Enenche, charged the students to become responsible and morally upright leaders, describing the establishment of the school’s Integrity Club as a critical step towards building a culture of transparency and accountability among young people.

Ola Olukoyede

He commended the EFCC for its sustained efforts in promoting integrity and ethical conduct among Nigerian youths.

In his closing remarks, the Principal of NAOWA College expressed appreciation to the EFCC and all attendees for their support and participation, noting that the inauguration of the Integrity Club marked the beginning of a new chapter for the school in promoting discipline, accountability and ethical leadership among students. Eereporter.com