The Financial and Monetary Crimes Fee, Ilorin Zonal Command, has arrested 41 suspects and seized 12 vans containing varied forms of strong minerals mined with out permits.
Whereas parading the suspects in Ilorin on Tuesday, the Zonal Commander of EFCC, Mr. Michael Nzekwe, mentioned the suspects had been picked from varied places together with Patigi, Igbeti and Ogbomoso areas of Kwara State.
The commander mentioned many of the arrested suspects had been truck drivers, including that a few of them had named some foreigners and one or two Nigerian massive males behind the unlawful mining.
He warned that the EFCC wouldn’t relent in its efforts to battle corruption, simply as it’s leaving no stone unturned in breaking the rings of the unlawful mining firms throughout the nation, including: “Other than the legislation that condemning unlawful mining actions is a sabotage to the financial system that may trigger environmental devastation, socio-economic hardship, insecurity, banditry and a number of different vices.”
In accordance with him, the offense is punishable with life imprisonment beneath Part 1(8)(b) of the Miscellaneous Offenses Act Cap M17, 1983.
The arrested suspects embody; Nura Lawan, Tunde Jimoh, Sani Umar, Oyeleke Sunkanmi, Adegboyega Oluwashola, Mohammed Umar, Muhammed Abubakar, Dawud Muideen, Chukwu Okpara Idam, Ganiyu Roqeeb, Umina Umina, Nura Ibrahim, Isiyaku Jibril and Samaila Ibrahim.
Others are; Idris Isah, Abdullahi Adamu, Yusuf Auwal, Aminu Usman, Muhammed Musa, Yusuf Ibrahim, Abdullahi Sani, Ishola Mayowa Qudus, Zakariyau Yusuf, Abubakar Dauda, Mohammed A Mohammed, Soliu Mohammed, Sunday Adewale and Adeyemi Michael.
The remainder are Idris Mohammed, Auwal Adam, Yusuf Ibrahim, Abdullahi Lawal, Damilare Samuel, Idris Oyeniran, Peter Gaya, Sulaiman Kabiru, Abdulwasiu Jimoh, Azeez Taofik, Isyaka Olalekan, Taofik Bello and Sadiq Murtala.
He added: “Particulars of the registration variety of the twelve vans seized by the anti-graft company are: FG 179 6B, KWM 398 XA, TRE 419 YJ, ABC 795 YL 667 XA, T3815 LA, AAA998XA, SHD 625XA and KWM 416
“Preliminary investigations have revealed that the minerals, believed to incorporate marble stone, white powder, lithium and lepidolite, are being transported overseas for the manufacturing of products on the expense of the Nigerian financial system,” Nzekwe mentioned.
He mentioned the suspects could be charged to courtroom after completion of the continued investigation.
It might be recalled that in 2022, the EFCC, Ilorin Zonal Command, had secured the conviction of a Chinese language nationwide, Gang Deng, and the eventual forfeiture of two vans containing the mineral contents to the Federal Authorities, whereas arresting 13 Chinese language nationals, together with a girl and 12 males on July 12, 2023, for crimes bordering on unlawful mining.
