The Federal High Court sitting in Jos, Plateau State, has ordered the deportation of four Chinese nationals convicted of illegal mining and related offences in the state.
Liang Quin Yong, Wang Huajie, Zhong Jiajing, and Long Kechong were convicted after being found guilty of engaging in unlawful mining operations and the illegal possession of mineral resources.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arrested the defendants on March 9, 2025, at the JLM Mining Company site in Jos following credible intelligence reports.
In a statement released by the EFCC, the commission said the operation uncovered illicit mining activities allegedly carried out by the foreigners, leading to their prosecution.
Delivering judgment, Justice Agishi sentenced each defendant to five years’ imprisonment with an option of a ₦1 million fine. The court further ordered their immediate deportation and imposed a permanent ban on their re-entry into Nigeria.
The court also ordered the forfeiture of all proceeds from the illegal activity to the federal government, including ₦134.87 million recovered from Liang Quin Yong.
Justice Agishi also ordered the forfeiture of all mineral resources recovered during the investigation, along with an administrative fine of ₦16.3 million.
The fine was imposed for the defendants’ failure to report a financial transaction within seven days, as required under Section 11(1)(b) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, to the EFCC’s Special Control Unit against Money Laundering (SCUML).
