*Court jails nine Chinese for cyber-terrorism, Internet fraud

The United States Mission in Nigeria has condemned illegal mining activities in the country, describing them as a threat to Nigeria’s economic stability and a contributor to global corruption.

In a post shared on Tuesday, via its official handle on X, the U.S. Mission emphasised the strategic implications of illicit mining, stating that “illicit mining threatens Nigeria’s economic future and fuels transnational corruption.”

“Accountability in the extractives sector is essential to protecting Nigeria’s sovereignty and ensuring a secure and transparent global supply chain, which is core to U.S. strategic interests,” they added.

The US statement came amid heightened scrutiny of the mining sector in Nigeria and was accompanied by a shared link to a news report on the arraignment of two Chinese nationals for alleged illegal dealing in mineral resources.

The link, posted under the mission’s statement on X, further reflects growing international concern over illicit mining activities in the country. On June 4, 2025, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arraigned Zhang Hong Lin and Zhao Pei Hai before Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke of the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos.

This is as a federal high court in Ikoyi, Lagos state, has convicted and sentenced nine Chinese nationals to one year imprisonment each for cyber-terrorism and internet fraud.

The convicts are LI Dong, Deng Wei Qiang, Huang Bo, Xiong Zhen, Lai Rui Feng, Zhao Xiao Hui, Lui Hai Rong, Lui Gang and Du Ji Feng. They are among the 792 suspects arrested in December 2024 during a sting operation tagged ‘Eagle Flush Operation’ by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The nine suspects were subsequently arraigned on one–count separate charges bordering on cyber-terrorism and internet fraud in February 2025. A statement by the EFCC on Tuesday said the defendants initially pleaded “not guilty” to the charges when they were read to them.

However, during the court proceedings on Thursday, June 5, 2025, they changed their “not guilty” pleas to “guilty”. In view of their pleas, Nnaemeka Omewa, the prosecution counsel, prayed the court to convict and sentence them.