24 people; 15 Chinese nationals and 9 Nigerians, were arraigned Monday before a Federal High Court in Abuja for alleged illegal lithium mining in Nasarawa State.
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps’ Mining Marshals brought the defendants before Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia on May 18. They face two counts of unlawful mining.
Prosecutors say the group was arrested May 16 in Kokona LGA, operating inside Exploration Licence No. 036528-EL, which belongs to TIMADIX Geomin Consult Ltd. The alleged mining happened at longitude 8°4’12″E, latitude 8°34’12″N.
The accused include Liu Jiabin, Hu Yunzhong, Zhou Yinmou, 12 other Chinese nationals, plus Nigerians like Thankgod Sani, Abubakar Nuhu, and C & A International New Energy Ltd.
All pleaded not guilty. Their lawyer, SAN M.T. Adekilekun, got them bail without any cash bond. The judge ordered them to surrender their passports and ID cards to the court registrar and released them to their counsel pending trial.
The case continues June 18. The offence violates Section 3(6) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act and carries penalties under Section 1(8)(b).
