The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Lagos Zonal Directorate 1, has secured the conviction and sentence of two Chinese Zhang Hong Lin and Gao Pei Hai, before Justice Akintayo Aluko of the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos, for conspiracy and the illegal mining of solid minerals.

The defendants were arraigned on a five-count charge bordering on conspiracy and the unlawful possession of mineral resources intended for export without lawful authority.

The defendants pleaded guilty when the charges were read to them.

Following their guilty pleas,  prosecution counsel, H.U. Kofarnaisa called the investigating officer, Matthew Orogwu, who reviewed the facts of the case and tendered documentary evidence before the court.

After presenting the evidence, Kofarnaisa urged the court to convict and sentence the defendants in line with the charges.

In his judgment, Justice Aluko found both defendants guilty on all five counts and sentenced each of them to five years’ imprisonment on each count, with an option of a N50 million fine covering all five counts.

The court also ordered the forfeiture of the recovered mineral resources to the Federal Government of Nigeria.

Six suspected kidnappers are in police net for allegedly being responsible for series of abductions in Kubwa and Bwari areas of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), as well as parts of Niger State.
The Niger State Commissioner of Police, Adamu Abdullahi Elleman, explained that the operatives arrested the suspects at Kpakungu, a suburb of Minna, the Niger State capital.

Briefing newsmen on Friday, the commissioner said, “The suspects confessed during interrogation to kidnapping residents in Bwari, Kubwa and parts of Niger State.”

He explained that details would be released in due course following the conclusion of ongoing investigations.

The Benue State Police Command has arrested a suspected ammunition courier and recovered 115 rounds of live 7.62mm ammunition during a security operation in the state.

The command disclosed the development in a statement issued by its spokesperson, CSP Udeme Edet, noting that the arrest followed a routine patrol by operatives who intercepted two men riding a motorcycle.

According to the statement, one of the suspects managed to flee after spotting the approaching police officers.

“Upon sighting the police, one of the occupants alighted from the motorcycle and fled into a nearby bush.

“The remaining suspect, identified as Joro Jarkata, a 20-year-old male from Awe Local Government Area of Nasarawa State, was apprehended.

“A search conducted on him led to the recovery of one hundred and fifteen (115) rounds of live 7.62mm ammunition concealed in his possession,” the statement read in part.

The police said the suspect remains in custody while the case has been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) in Makurdi for a detailed investigation.

According to the command, detectives are working to determine the source of the recovered ammunition, identify its intended destination and uncover those connected to the illegal movement of the consignment. Efforts are also ongoing to apprehend the fleeing suspect.

The statement added that the Commissioner of Police, Cletus Nwadiogbu, commended the officers for their alertness and prompt action, which resulted in the successful interception and seizure of the ammunition.

The police commissioner also reiterated the command’s commitment to combating the proliferation of illegal arms and dismantling criminal networks threatening the safety of residents across Benue State.

The command further appealed to members of the public to remain vigilant and promptly report any suspicious persons or activities to the nearest police station.