Nigeria’s anti-corruption agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has convicted two Chinese nationals, Duan Ya Hong and Xiao Yi over their involvement in illegal mining in Kwara State, North Central Nigeria.
The EFCC, in a statement on its social media handle, said that the convicts were initially arraigned on April 22 alongside their company, Ebuy Concept Limited. They faced illegal mining-related charges before a Federal High Court sitting in Ilorin.
They both pleaded not guilty and were granted bail in the sum of N5 million and two sureties each.
However, following a second hearing, both defendants changed their plea and admitted to being guilty of the charges before them
After the defendants pleaded guilty and their defence counsel raised no objections, Justice Anyadike found them guilty and sentenced each defendant to one year in prison, with an option to pay fines of N2 million and N1.5 million, respectively.
The court also ordered that the minerals excavated, as well as the truck conveying them, be forfeited.