Two persons, company convicted for illegal mining activities in Kwara

A Federal High Court sitting in Ilorin has convicted two persons and a company for illegal mining activities in contravention of the Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act, 2007.

The convicts, Samuel Sunday, who was arraigned on a one-count charge, and Saheed Lawal Akanji alongside his company, Saaskrona Nigeria Limited, who were separately arraigned on a two-count charge, were prosecuted before Justice Abimbola Awogboro of the Federal High Court sitting in Ilorin.

According to a statement by the Media Unit of the Ilorin Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, their journey to jail followed credible intelligence received by the commission alleging that some individuals were illegally dealing in and processing solid minerals in Kwara State without the requisite licences.

Acting on the intelligence, EFCC operatives carried out surveillance, which led to the arrest of a number of suspects.

While Sunday was arrested at his factory located in the Olorunda area, beside Deeper Life Camp, Eiyenkorin, Akanji was arrested at his factory opposite Ojaja University, along Passa Road, Eiyenkorin, Kwara State.

Investigations revealed that the defendants were unlawfully dealing in and processing various solid minerals, including Smithsonite, Calcite, Anhydrite, Tennantite, and Quartz, without the licences required under the Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act, 2007.

The charge against Sunday read: “That you, Samuel Sunday, sometime in June 2026, within the judicial division of the Federal High Court, did possess minerals without permit contrary to the provisions of Section 93, read along with Section 131(d) of the Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act, 2007 and punishable under Section 134(b) of the same Act.”

Count One of the charges against Akanji and Saaskrona Nigeria Limited reads: “That you, SAASKRONA NIGERIA LIMITED and Saheed Lawal Akanji (Director, Saaskrona Nigeria Limited), sometime in June 2026, within the judicial division of the Federal High Court, did possess minerals without permit, contrary to the provisions of Section 93, read along with Section 131(d) of the Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act, 2007 and punishable under Section 134(b) of the same Act.”

The defendants, upon arraignment, pleaded guilty to their respective charges.

Following the guilty pleas, counsel to the EFCC, Rashidat Alao, reviewed the facts of the cases and tendered documentary evidence as well as the minerals recovered during the investigation.

In her judgment, Justice Awogboro sentenced Sunday to 12 months’ imprisonment or an option of a fine of N2 million.

The court also ordered the forfeiture of the 140 tonnes of mineral ore recovered at his site to the Federal Government of Nigeria.

Similarly, Akanji was sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment or an option of a fine of N1 million, while Saaskrona Nigeria Limited was fined N1 million.

The court also ordered the forfeiture of the 90 tonnes of minerals recovered from the company’s site to the Federal Government of Nigeria.

Two persons, company convicted for illegal mining activities in Kwara