The Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned two suspected Chinese illegal miners, Zhang Hong Lin and Zhao Pei Hai, before Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi.
According to the EFCC, the defendants were arraigned on a five-count charge bordering on the unlawful possession and exportation of mineral resources on Wednesday, June 4, 2025.
One of the counts reads: “That you, ZHANG HONG LIN, GAO PEI HAI AND GAO PEI YU (AT LARGE) sometime in 2025 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, conspired between yourselves and with intent to defraud the Federal Government of Nigeria of the revenue accruing therefrom and without the permission of the appropriate authority, engaged in the exportation of “Mica Products, Copper bearing and Lithium bearing mineral resources” out of Nigeria, and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 8 (a) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act, 1983 and punishable under Section 8 of the same Act.”
The Commission revealed that they pleaded “not guilty” to the charges when they were read to them.
In view of their plea, prosecution counsel, Bilkisu Buhari, who appeared with C.C. Okezie and H.U Kofarnaisa, prayed the court for a trial date and for the defendants to be remanded in a correctional centre.
However, the defence counsel prayed the court to remand his clients in the EFCC’s custody pending the hearing of their bail application.
Justice Aneke rejected the application and remanded them in a correctional centre.
The judge further adjourned the matter until July 4, 2025, for the commencement of the trial.
