​Federal High Court Delivers Landmark Sentence in Solid Minerals Crackdown

​Two Chinese nationals, Zhang Hong Lin and Gao Pei Hai, have been sentenced to five years in prison by the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos, presided over by Justice Akintayo Aluko. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) secured the conviction following a rigorous prosecution by the Lagos Zonal Directorate 1.

​The defendants faced a five-count charge focusing on conspiracy, unlawful possession, and the illegal exportation of critical solid minerals without the requisite authorization from the Federal Government.

​Case Background and Charges

​Court documents revealed that the convicts, alongside an accomplice still at large named Gao Pei Yu, operated an illicit pipeline for extracting and exporting valuable resources.

​The specific charge highlighted that the trio conspired during the previous year to defraud the Nigerian government of vital revenue. They engaged in the unauthorized exportation of strategic mineral products, including:

• ​Mica products
• ​Copper-bearing minerals
• ​Lithium-bearing resources

​This illicit activity directly violated Section 1(8)(a) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act, 1983, and carried punitive measures under Section 8 of the same legislation.

​Guilty Pleas and Prosecution Evidence

​Confronted with the overwhelming evidence gathered by anti-corruption investigators, both defendants entered a plea of guilty to all counts during their arraignment.

​The prosecution counsel, H.U. Kofarnaisa, subsequently invited the lead investigating officer, Matthew Orogwu, to the witness stand. Orogwu systematically reviewed the facts of the case, presenting crucial documentary evidence that tied the defendants directly to the illegal operations.

ADVERTISEMENT

​Following the presentation of evidence, Kofarnaisa urged the bench to deliver a strong verdict that reflects the gravity of economic sabotage against the nation.

​Judgment and Asset Forfeiture

​Delivering his ruling, Justice Aluko affirmed the prosecution’s case, pronouncing both Zhang Hong Lin and Gao Pei Hai guilty across all five counts.

​Each defendant received a five-year prison sentence per count. However, the court extended an option of a ₦50 million collective fine to cover the entirety of the five counts.

​In addition to the prison terms and financial penalties, the presiding judge ordered the immediate permanent forfeiture of all recovered mineral resources to the Federal Government of Nigeria, marking a decisive victory in ongoing efforts to sanitise the nation’s solid minerals sector.