Four Chinese nationals identified as Liang Quin Yong, Wang Huajie, Zhong Jiajing and Long Kechong have been convicted and sentenced to five years imprisonment each for the illegal mining of solid minerals in Plateau State.
According to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), they were sentenced by Justice Dorcas .V. Agishi of the Federal High Court sitting in Jos, the Plateau State capital.
EFCC disclosed that the defendants were arrested on March 8, 2025, at JLM Mining Company site following credible intelligence regarding suspected illegal mining activities by some Chinese nationals in the state.
Each defendant was prosecuted on a separate one-count charge relating to the illegal dealing in solid minerals mining.
The charge against Liang Quin Yong reads: “That you, Liang Quin Yong on or about the 9th of March, at Dura Rayfield axis of Jos, Plateau State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did commit an offence to wit; without lawful authority engaged in the purchase of Minerals Resources and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 1(8)(b) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act, 1983.”
Wang Huajie’s charge reads: “That you, Wang Huajie on or about 9th of March, at Dura Rayfield axis of Jos, Plateau State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did commit an offence to wit; without lawful authority engaged in the purchase of Mineral Resources and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 1(8)(b) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act 1983.”
The charge against Zhong Jiajing reads: “That you, Zhong Jiajing on or about on or about 9th of March, at Dura Rayfield axis of Jos, Plateau State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did commit an offence to wit; without lawful authority engaged in the purchase of Mineral Resources and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 1(8)(b) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act 1983.”
The charge against Long Kechong reads: “That you, Long Kechong on or about 9th of March, at Dura Rayfield axis of Jos, Plateau State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did commit an offence to wit; without lawful authority engaged in the purchase of Mineral Resources and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 1(8)(b) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act 1983.”
They pleaded “guilty” when the charges were read to them. Consequently, EFCC counsels, M.O. Arumemi and F.A.I Asemebo prayed the court to convict them accordingly.
Justice Agishi found the defendants guilty and sentenced them to five years imprisonment each or pay a fine of ₦1,000,000 each for unlawful purchase and possession of mineral resources.
The judge also ordered their deportation from Nigeria and banned them from re-entering the country.
Similarly, all proceeds of the crime are to be forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria. Liang Quin Yong is to forfeit the sum of ₦134,874,769.01 million, identified as proceeds from the unlawful purchase of mineral resources.
Justice Agishi ordered the forfeiture of all mineral resources recovered during the investigation and imposed an administrative fine of ₦16,300,000 million for failure to report a financial transaction within seven days to the Special Control Unit against Money Laundering (SCUML), as mandated under Section 11(1)(b) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
“All the convicts bagged their imprisonment when they were arraigned before the court for illegal dealing in solid minerals. They pleaded guilty to the charges and were convicted,” the Commission stated.
