By Our Correspondent

Justice Abdullahi M. Dan-Ige of the Federal High Court, sitting in Minna, Niger State has convicted and sentenced the quintet of Yusuf Amadu, Babila Sani, Ibrahim Umar, Ephraim Jonas Okoro and Saidu Mohammed to jail for illegal mining.

They were prosecuted by the Kaduna Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on seperate one-count charge that bordered on illegal mining.

Amadu’s charge reads: “That you, Yusuf Amadu on or about 14th November, 2024 in Kacha, Minna, Niger State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court had in your possession, precious stones without licence and you there by committed an offence contrary to Section 131(d) of the Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act, 2007 and punishable under Section 134(b) of the same Act.”

That of Umar reads: “That you, of Ibrahim Umar, male, sometime in November, 2024 in Minna, Niger State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court had in your possession, precious stones without licence and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 131(d) of the Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act, 2007 and punishable under Section 134(b) of the same Act.”

They all pleaded “guilty” to their charge, following which the prosecution counsel K.S Ogunlade asked the court to convict and sentence them accordingly, while the defence counsel pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy, stating that the offenders have remorseful of their actions.

Justice Dan-Ige sentenced and convicted all the defendants to one year imprisonment or to pay N100,000.00 (One Hundred Thousand Naira) fine, each.

The convicts were arrested following credible intelligence that exposed their illegal mining activities in Minna Local Government Area and Kateregi Community in Kacha Local Government of Niger state.

Spokesman of the EFCC Dele Oyewale confirmed the story.

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