Abuja, NIGERIA — Nigeria’s war on economic sabotage took a dramatic turn this week as four Chinese nationals were convicted and sentenced to prison in what prosecutors are calling one of the most brazen cases of illegal mining in recent history.
In a packed courtroom in Jos, Justice Dorcas V. Agishi of the Federal High Court delivered a thunderous ruling that saw Liang Quin Yong, Wang Huajie, Zhong Jiajing, and Long Kechong each sentenced to five years’ imprisonment or a fine of one million naira, after they pleaded guilty to operating without lawful authority in the heart of Plateau State’s mineral belt.
The convictions follow a covert intelligence-led operation at the JLM Mining site on March 8, 2025, which led to the arrest of the suspects. Investigators said they were tipped off about clandestine activities at the Dura Rayfield axis of Jos, where the men were caught engaging in the unlawful purchase and handling of mineral resources.
Each defendant faced a separate charge under Section 1(8)(b) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act of 1983, which criminalises unauthorised dealing in mineral wealth—a serious offence amid Nigeria’s growing concerns over foreign interference in its extractive sector.
They wasted no time entering guilty pleas, prompting EFCC counsel M.O. Arumemi and F.A.I. Asemebo to press for swift conviction, citing clear and irrefutable evidence.
Justice Agishi, satisfied with the prosecution’s case, issued the verdict and announced additional penalties that have since reverberated across diplomatic and commercial circles. Alongside the jail terms, the convicts were ordered to be deported from Nigeria and barred from returning—permanently.
In a financial blow designed to claw back the illicit gains, the judge ordered the forfeiture of N134,874,769.01—the proceeds of illegal mineral trade—seized from Liang Quin Yong. Further orders included the forfeiture of all recovered minerals and an administrative fine of N16.3 million for failure to report financial transactions as mandated under the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act of 2022.
“This is a strong message to all those who think Nigeria’s mineral wealth is theirs for the taking,” one senior EFCC official told The Telegraph after the sentencing. “We are closing in on illegal operators, foreign or local.”
The ruling marks a rare and decisive win for enforcement authorities in a sector long plagued by weak regulation and cross-border exploitation. With JLM Mining’s operations now under further scrutiny, legal observers believe the crackdown may only be the beginning of a wider purge.
For the four convicts, however, the verdict is clear: Nigeria will not tolerate the illegal plundering of its natural resources.
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