Crime
Stakeholders Reveals Reasons For Illegal Mining, Says “Won’t End Without Proper A”ction
Stakeholders Reveals Reasons For Illegal Mining, Says “Won’t End Without Proper A”ction
Stakeholders reveals reasons for illegal mining, says “won’t end without proper action”. Mr Ajibade said controlling people who resort to scavenging for minerals at mining sites due to economic hardships was usually difficult.
Stakeholders in the mining sector have said that illegal mining will persist in Nigeria as long as poverty exists.
They spoke on Sunday in Abuja that, despite Federal Government measures to combat illegal mining, it remains a source of livelihood for many living in poverty.
Sixty-three per cent of persons living in Nigeria are multidimensionally poor, according to the Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) Survey by the National Bureau of Statistics.
The report noted that multidimensional poverty was higher in rural areas, where 72 per cent of people are poor, compared to 42 per cent of people in urban areas.
President of the Gemstone Miners and Marketers Association of Nigeria, Adeniran Ajibade, noted that illegal mining was being addressed but could not confirm that it had declined, possibly due to poverty in the country.
Mr Ajibade said controlling people who resort to scavenging for minerals at mining sites due to economic hardships was usually difficult.
He stated, “As long as we have poverty, there will always be people that will be looking at how they can get something from the ground. This is because most of the time when we talk about them as artisanal and small-scale miners, they are highly migratory; they freelance all over the place, in the bush, and are very difficult to control.’’
He said that as part of efforts to address the situation, the government, during reforms in the mining sector in 2007 under a World Bank project, established the Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining Department.
He explained that the department, domiciled in the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development, was created to enumerate and formalise artisanal and small-scale miners, as well as build their capacity to mine efficiently and within the ambit of the law.
According to him, the inauguration of the mining marshals in 2024 contributed to combating illegal mining, especially by large companies, but it remains difficult to apprehend individuals engaged in the practice.
He said, “I also found out that the minister is also establishing a mine marshal office in different parts of the federation. So, with those people there, they will be able to back up the Mines Inspectorate Department and Mines Environment and Compliance Department of the ministry to be able to combat the menace of illegal mining.’’
Similarly, Executive Director of Renevlyn Development Initiative, Philip Jakpor, noted that poverty forced several mining communities to become involved in illegal mining.
He stated, “It’s like this: if they leave the resources, others will come and pillage them, so instead of allowing just others to do it, why not also benefit even if it’s little.’’
Mr Akpor noted that mining operations had regulations which mining firms were not adhering to in their quest to maximise profits, noting that they must be compelled to comply, as community members were the victims.
Stakeholders Reveals Reasons For Illegal Mining
A miner, Ladidi Yakubu, said that though poverty could push people into illegal mining, large organisations were perpetrating the crime, some of which have been linked to sponsoring banditry and other crimes in mining areas.
She said, “The Minister of Solid Minerals, Dr Dele Alake, and Senator Adams Oshiomhole also attest to the fact that we have big, powerful illegal miners sponsoring banditry. They exploit the vulnerability of the poor to perpetrate their crimes, which is very sad.
We pray that this new administration addresses the hardship Nigerians are experiencing today because things are so difficult.’’
Contractor Julius Ejiogu Bags Two Years Imprisonment For Forgery
Justice F. A. Olubanjo of the Federal High Court sitting in Asaba, Delta State has convicted and sentenced Julius Ejiogu, a contractor to two years imprisonment for forgery.
The convict was arraigned on a three -count charge of conspiracy, forgery and uttering of false document on March 23, 2021 by the Benin Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
Upon arraignment, he pleaded not guilty to the charge setting the stage for trial.
The charge reads: “That you Julius Eljiogu and one Engr. E. Expert (at large) on or about the 2nd of August 2013, at Delta State within the jurisdiction of this honourable did conspires amongst yourselves to committed felony to wit: make a document titled Award of Contract for the Construction of Obudu-operation Road in Udu L.G.A. Delta State dated 2nd August 2013 on a letterhead paper on the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, purported to have been issued or emanated from NDDC for the award of Contract which you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 3(6) of the Miscellaneous Offence Act Cap M17 of the Revised Edition (Laws of the Federation of Nigeria) Act 2007 and punishable under Section 3 (1)(C) of the same Act.”
In the course of the trial, prosecution counsel, K.Y. Bello called four witnesses and tendered several documents which were admitted by the court while the defendant testified as sole witness for his case.
Jail
Justice Olubanjo in his judgment (on Thursday January 15, 2026) found the defendant guilty on count one of the charge but discharged and acquitted him on count two and three . The judge consequently sentenced the defendant to two years imprisonment with an option of N1 million fine.
The convict’s road to jail began when he purportedly got a letter for the award of Contract for the Construction of Obudu-Oleri Road in Udu Local Government Area, Delta State from one Engr. Eshitt of the Niger Delta Development Commission. He went ahead to sell the contract to the petitioner for N2 million only for him to discover that the said contract award was fake.
EFCC Boss Olukoyede Charges DNFBPs On SCUML Compliance In South-East
In its bid to frontally combat money laundering, terrorism financing, proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, safeguard businesses and strengthen the integrity of Nigeria’s financial system, the Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Mr. Ola Olukoyede has called on operators of Designated Non-Financial Businesses and Professions, DNFBPs in the South-East to comply with mandatory registration under the Special Control Unit Against Money Laundering, SCUML.
He made this call recently on a live Radio programme at the Enugu State Broadcasting Service where he explained the importance of the SCUML certificate for businesses operating within the non-financial sector.
The Executive Chairman, who was represented by Assistant Commander of the EFCC, ACE II Promise Oluigbo, Head of SCUML Department in Enugu Zonal Directorate of the Commission noted that SCUML is responsible for the registration, regulation, monitoring and supervision of DNFBPs as provided for under the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022.
“DNFBPs are categories of businesses identified under Section 30 of the Money Laundering Act and include sectors such as automobile dealerships, real estate businesses, construction firms, hospitality services, supermarkets, legal practitioners, consultants, and non-profit organizations.’
“ As a regulatory body responsible for overseeing the activities of these businesses in order to curb money laundering and financing of terrorism, it’s important I say it here that the registration process is completely free. Business owners do not need to engage any third party. All they need to do is visit the SCUML portal and complete the registration process”, he said.
According to him, with the introduction of electronic certification which has improved efficiency and eliminated the risk of fake certificates, over 480,000 (Four Hundred and Eighty Thousand ) entities have been registered nationwide. He warned members of the public against engaging agents who charge fees for SCUML registration, stressing that the Commission does not authorize third-party registrations. “The EFCC frowns at any individual or group collecting money from businesses under the guise of facilitating SCUML registration. The process is seamless and free of charge”, he said.
Ola Olukoyede
While emphasizing on the need for businesses to register and collect the certificate, Olukoyede enjoined them to ensue adherence to statutory requirements such as Know Your Customer, KYC procedures, customer due diligence, record keeping and reporting of suspicious transactions, adding that failure to comply constitutes a violation of the law and may attract fines, imprisonment or other regulatory sanctions as stipulated under the Act.
“The objective of the SCUML framework is not to stifle businesses but to protect the financial system and ensure transparency in commercial activities.
It is designed to safeguard businesses and strengthen the integrity of Nigeria’s financial system”, he said.
Kaduna Court Jails Three For Fraud
Kaduna court jails three for fraud. Justice A. Isiaka of the Kaduna State High Court, sitting in Kaduna has convicted and jailed the trio of Aliyu Hassan, Samuel Olamide and Solomon Joseph Christian for fraud.
They were prosecuted by the Kaduna Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC on separate one-count charge, bordering on criminal impersonation and obtaining by false pretence.
The charge against Hassan reads: “That you, Aliyu Hassan (a.k.a Ottaviani Loverules Giovanni) on or about the 9th of February, 2026 in Kaduna within the jurisdiction of the Honourable Court, impersonated one Ottaviani Loverules Giovanni (a citizen of Brazil) via Facebook platform and in such assumed character, you defrauded one Kerry the sum of N90,000.00 (Ninety Thousand Naira, only) and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 142(1) of the Kaduna State Penal Code Law, 2017 and punishable under the same law.”
Olamide’s charge reads: “That you, Samuel Olamide (a.k.a Johnny) on or about the 9th of February, 2026 in Kaduna within the jurisdiction of the Honourable Court, impersonated one Johnny (a United States of America) citizen via TikTok platform and in such assumed character, you defrauded one Jackie Sanders (an American ) and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 142(1) of the Kaduna State Penal Code Law, 2017 and punishable under the same law.”
Christian’s charge reads: “That you, Solomon Joseph Christian.(a.k.a Jenort) sometime in February, 2026 in Kaduna, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, impersonated one Jenort via Facebook (a social media platform) and in that assumed character benefited the sum of $USD150 and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 142(1) of the Kaduna State Penal Code Law, 2017 and punishable under the same law.”
They all pleaded “guilty,” following which the prosecution counsel, M.U Gadaka prayed the court to convict and sentence them accordingly.
Justice Isiaka convicted and sentenced them to five years imprisonment each or to pay N300,000 (Three Hundred Thousand Naira) fine, respectively.
Court
In addition to the sentence, Hassan forfeited N90,000.00 (Ninety Thousand Naira) and a Samsung Galaxy Note 8 mobile phone with IMEI No SM-N9500, being the proceeds of his crime. Olamide forfeited a Samsung Galaxy S21 mobile phone with IMEI No 35198153052814, being the tool of his crime and Christian forfeited iPhone 14 Pro with IMEI NO 35771267218661 and the sum of $150 (One Hundred and Fifty Dollars) being the proceeds of his crime. All the forfeitures were to the federal government.
The convicts were arrested in Agwa, Kudende area of Kaduna following credible intelligence that linked them to fraudulent internet activities. They were charged to court and convicted.
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