Justice Akintayo Aluko of the Federal High Court, Lagos, has convicted and sentenced two Chinese nationals, Zhang Hong Lin and Gao Pei Hai, to a total of 50 years imprisonment for attempting to illegally export strategic mineral resources belonging to Nigeria.

 

The Federal high court sentenced each of the convicts to 25 years imprisonment after finding them guilty of all five counts bordering on conspiracy, unlawful possession and attempted exportation of lithium-bearing, copper-bearing and other mineral resources without lawful approval.

 

Justice Aluko, in his judgment, also gave each convict an option of a N10 million fine on each of the five counts and ordered that the prison terms should run from the date of their arrest.

 

The judge further ordered the forfeiture of all the seized mineral resources involved in the case to the Federal Government.

 

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), through its counsel, Hasanatu Kofarnaisa, had prosecuted the defendants on charges filed before the court on May 28, 2025.

 

The two convicts were arraigned alongside another Chinese national, Gao Pei Yu, who remains at large, over allegations that they attempted to export Nigeria’s strategic mineral resources without obtaining the required regulatory approvals.

 

According to the anti graft Agency, the defendants allegedly conspired in Lagos to deprive the Federal Government of revenue accruing from the country’s solid mineral resources by attempting to export mica products, copper-bearing minerals and lithium-bearing minerals without authorisation from relevant authorities.

 

The alleged offences were said to be contrary to Section 1(8)(a) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act, 1983.

 

The prosecution also alleged that on May 9, 2025, the defendants unlawfully possessed various mineral resources intended for export without lawful authority, an offence said to contravene Section 8(b) of the same Act.

 

The minerals listed before the court included Muscovite and Lepidolite, both mica minerals; Spodumene and Petalite, which are lithium-bearing ores; as well as Anhydrite, Quartz, Magnesite, Bornite and Cuprite, which are associated with copper-bearing mineral resources.

 

After examining the evidence presented by the prosecution, Justice Aluko held that the EFCC had established its case beyond reasonable doubt against the first and second defendants.

 

The court consequently convicted Zhang Hong Lin and Gao Pei Hai on all five counts, imposed the custodial sentences and fine options, and directed that the recovered mineral resources be forfeited to the Federal Government.