Nigerian Court Arraigns Two Chinese Men On Illegal Mining Charge

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On Monday, April 22, 2024, Duan Ya Hong, Xiao Yi, and their business, Ebuy Concept Limited, were arraigned before Justice Evelyn Anyadike of the Federal High Court located in Ilorin.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Ilorin Zonal Command has charged two Chinese individuals as well as a corporation with engaging in illicit mining activities.

On Monday, April 22, 2024, Duan Ya Hong, Xiao Yi, and their business, Ebuy Concept Limited, were arraigned before Justice Evelyn Anyadike of the Federal High Court located in Ilorin.

This was stated in an EFCC statement released on Thursday night, which also mentioned that the defendants were charged with one count of possessing solid minerals without a licence and failing to pay the legally due royalties to the Nigerian government.

The allegation is as follows: “That sometime in February 2024 at Banni, in Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State, within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court, without lawful authority, you, Ebuy Trading Worldwide Nig. Ltd., Duan Ya Hong, Xiao Yi, and thereby committed an offence, contrary to and punishable under Section 1(8)(b) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act 1984.”

After the charge was presented to them in Mandarin and English, the defendants entered a not guilty plea.

After making their pleas, Innocent Mbachie, the EFCC’s attorney, asked the court to confine the defendants to the Nigerian Correctional Service till the case is heard and decided.

In order to give the prosecution time to present its case, he also asked the court to set a trial date. In response, A. A. Aromolaran, the defendants’ attorney, begged the judge to grant his clients bail.

He said the defendants’ passports were already in the Commission’s possession and there was no reason they wouldn’t be brought up for trial. In addition, he gave the court his word that they would not obstruct investigations or threaten witnesses.

Judge Anyadike granted the defendants bail in the amount of N5 million naira with two sureties each in an equivalent amount after hearing arguments and counterarguments from both sides.

The judge ruled that the sureties had to be landowners under the court’s jurisdiction and that they had to register the properties’ documents of title with the court registry. In addition, the sureties were directed by the court to present proof of their payment of taxes for the last three years as well as proof of their payment of power bills for the previous ten months. The statement continued,

Thereafter, the judge adjourned the matter until May 16, 2024, for the commencement of trial and ordered that the defendants be remanded in the custody of the EFCC pending the perfection of their bail conditions.”

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