Nigerian Court Jails Four Chinese Nationals For Illegal Mining In Plateau State

By Onoja Baba, Nigeria

A Federal High Court in Jos, Plateau State, has sentenced four Chinese nationals to five years imprisonment each for engaging in illegal mining activities.

Justice Dorcas V. Agishi delivered the judgment on Friday, convicting the foreigners after they pleaded guilty to separate charges of unlawfully purchasing and dealing in solid mineral resources.

The convicts, Liang Quin Yong, Wang Huajie, Zhong Jiajing, and Long Kechong, were arrested on March 8, 2025, at a mining site operated by JLM Mining Company in Jos, following credible intelligence.

They were each charged under Section 1(8)(b) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act, 1983, for illegal possession and trade in mineral resources without lawful authority.

“Without lawful authority, you engaged in the purchase of mineral resources,” read the charge sheets filed against each defendant.

At their arraignment, they admitted guilt to the charges brought against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Prosecution counsel M.O. Arumemi and F.A.I. Asemebo urged the court to convict them accordingly.

Justice Agishi, satisfied that the prosecution had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt, sentenced each defendant to five years in prison or an alternative fine of one million naira.

The court also ordered that the convicts be deported from Nigeria and barred from returning.

In addition to the jail terms, the court directed that all proceeds from the illegal activity be forfeited to the Federal Government.

Liang Quin Yong was ordered to forfeit the sum of ₦134,874,769.01, which he obtained through unlawful purchase of mineral resources.

The court further ruled that all solid minerals recovered during the investigation be forfeited, along with a separate ₦16.3 million administrative fine for failure to report financial transactions within the timeframe mandated by law.

The fine was imposed under Section 11(1)(b) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, for breaching reporting obligations to the Special Control Unit against Money Laundering (SCUML).

The convictions mark a rare but significant development in Nigeria’s effort to combat illegal mining and related financial crimes.