Two Chinese, Duan Ya Hong, and Xiao Yi were arraigned on Monday, April 22, 2024, alongside their company, Ebuy Concept Limited, on a one-count charge bordering on illegal mining.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) states that Justice Evelyn Anyadike of the Federal High Court sitting in Ilorin on Wednesday found them guilty and sentenced them to one year in prison for offenses pertaining to illegal mining and possession of solid minerals without the necessary licenses.
The lone-count charge reads: “That you, Ebuy Trading Worldwide Nig. LTD, Duan Ya Hong, Xiao Yi sometime in the Month of February 2024 at Banni, in Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State, within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court, without lawful authority, purchased minerals to wit; 30 tons of minerals conveyed in a Truck, with Registration Number JJJ 386 XT and thereby committed an offence, contrary to and punishable under Section 1(8)(b) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act 1984”.
After the charges were read to them, they entered a not-guilty plea. As a result, they were given bail totaling N5 million Naira, along with two sureties in an equivalent amount.
Furthermore, the court mandated that they be held under the supervision of the EFCC until their bail conditions were fulfilled. The trial was then postponed to Tuesday, May 14, 2024.
The court adjourned the case until Wednesday in order to review the facts and consider a potential conviction after the defendants, who had not yet fulfilled their bail requirements, chose to enter a guilty plea to one of the amended 11-count charges and a not-guilty plea to the other counts when the case returned to court on Tuesday.
Innocent Mbachie, the EFCC’s counsel, went over the case’s facts during the meeting that was resumed on Wednesday. He also presented evidence that included the defendants’ extrajudicial statements, photos of themselves, samples of the minerals, pictures of the truck, and the forensic report that the Nigeria Geological Survey Agency had provided on the minerals’ analysis.
The prosecution’s exhibits were accepted into evidence by the court after the defendants, represented by I.A. Ahmed, did not object to their admittance.
Judge Anyadike found the prosecution had proven its case beyond a reasonable doubt and found the defendants guilty as charged. As a result, the judge sentenced Yi to one year in prison with the option of receiving N1.5 million in fines, while Hong received a one-year sentence with a fee of N2 million.
The court also mandated the temporary confiscation of the truck carrying the thirty tons of minerals.
