EFCC arraigns two for illegal possession of solid minerals

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ilorin Zonal Command, has arraigned two persons for offenses bordering on possession of solid minerals without lawful authority.

The defendants, Nura Lawal and Tunde Jimoh, were arraigned on a one-count charge before Justice Uche Agomoh of the Federal High Court sitting in Ibadan, Oyo State.

While Lawal was the driver of a truck allegedly conveying about 30 tons of assorted solid minerals, Jimoh was the escort of the truck.

Their arrest Aollowed intelligence report received by the Ilorin Command of the EFCC about the activities of some people engaged in mining solid minerals within Kwara and transporting the products outside the state for commercial purposes without lawful authority.

The Commission traced and eventually arrested the two defendants on February 4, 2024, in the Ogbomoso area of Oyo State.

The charge against the defendants reads: “That you, Nura Lawal and Tunde Jimoh sometime in February 2024 within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court, without lawful authority were found in possession of minerals conveyed in a truck with plate number T3815LA contrary to, and punishable under Section 1 (8) (b) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act Cap M17, 1983”

Lawal pleaded guilty to the charge while Jimoh pleaded not guilty.

Amid the pleas by the defendants, counsel to the EFCC, Mustapha Kaigama, prayed the court to set a date for a review of facts in the case of Lawal who pleaded guilty and trial in the case of the second defendant (Jimoh) who pleaded not guilty.

Thereafter, the judge ordered that the defendants be remanded at Nigerian Correctional Centre, Agodi, Ibadan, and adjourned till June 5, 2024, for review of facts in Lawal’s case and trial in the case of Jimoh.