The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has arraigned two Chinese nationals, Zhang Hong Lin and Gao Pei Hai, before the Federal High Court in Lagos, on charges of alleged illegal mining and possession of mineral resources.
They are facing five counts bordering on conspiracy, illegal mining, and unlawful possession of mineral resources, including lithium and copper.
Lin and Hai were arraigned on Wednesday before Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke. They were charged alongside another Chinese national, Gao Pei Yu, who is currently at large.
The EFCC’s prosecution legal team, led by Bilikisu Buhari-Bala, alongside Chinenye Okezie and Hanatu Kofanaisa, alleged that the defendants conspired to defraud the Federal Government by engaging in illegal mining and exportation of mineral resources without the required authorisation.
Buhari-Bala told the court that the offences were allegedly committed in May 2025.
The prosecution alleged that the trio conspired to illegally export various mineral resources, including Mica products, copper-bearing and lithium-bearing minerals, without the permission of the appropriate authorities.
They were also accused of having in their possession, “T-12078LA, Muscovite and Leidolite, of Mica Minerals; LSR585XD- Spodumene and Petalite of Lithium bearing minerals; LSR585XD- Anhydrite, Quartz, Magnesite, Bornite and Cuprite of Copper and APP379XW-Spodumene and Petalite Ores of Lithium bearing for exportation purposes.
According to the prosecution, the offences committed contravened Sections 8(a) and 8(b) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act of 1983 and are punishable under the same law.
However, the defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges preferred against them.
Following the non-guilty plea of the defendants, the prosecution urged the court to remand them to the correctional centre and asked for a trial date.
But counsel for the defendants, Jeremiah Okoro, urged the court to remand the defendants in the EFCC custody to enable him to move the bail application orally.
Consequently, Justice Aneke ordered that the two defendants be remanded at the Ikoyi Correctional Centre and adjourned the matter until July 4, 2025, for trial.