EFCC arraigns Two Chinese Nationals for alleged illegal mining and exportation of lithium

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Wednesday arraigned two Chinese nationals, Zhang Hong Lin and Gao Pei Hai, before a Federal High Court in Lagos. They are accused of involvement in illegal mining and unlawful possession and exportation of various mineral resources, including lithium.

The defendants appeared before Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke on a five-count charge encompassing conspiracy, illegal mining, and unlawful exportation of mineral resources. A third individual, Gao Pei Yu, is currently at large.

According to the EFCC, the accused were engaged in the unauthorized exportation of mica products, copper-bearing minerals, and lithium-bearing resources without the necessary approvals from the Federal Government. The prosecution stated that these activities occurred in May 2025, and the minerals included:

• T-12078LA: Muscovite and Leidolite (Mica minerals)
• LSR585XD: Spodumene and Petalite (Lithium-bearing minerals)
• LSR585XD: Anhydrite, Quartz, Magnesite, Bornite, and Cuprite (Copper-bearing minerals)
• APP379XW: Spodumene and Petalite Ores (Lithium-bearing)

The prosecution further alleged that the defendants’ actions were a deliberate attempt to defraud the Federal Government of the revenue due from these natural resources. The offences, it asserted, violate Sections 8(a) and 8(b) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act of 1983 and are punishable under the same law.

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Both defendants pleaded not guilty to all charges.

Following their plea, the EFCC requested that the court remand the accused in prison custody and set a date for trial. However, the defence counsel requested that the defendants be remanded in EFCC custody instead.

In his ruling, Justice Aneke ordered that the accused be remanded at the Ikoyi Correctional Centre and adjourned the matter to July 4, 2025, for trial.

One of the charges against the defendants reads: “That you, Zhang Hong Lin, Gao Pei Hai, and Gao Pei Yu (at large), sometime in 2025 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, conspired among yourselves with the intent to defraud the Federal Government of Nigeria of revenue and, without the required authorisation, engaged in the exportation of mica products, copper-bearing and lithium-bearing mineral resources. You thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 8(a) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act, 1983, and punishable under the same Section.”

The EFCC continues its crackdown on illegal mining operations, which it states contribute significantly to revenue losses and environmental degradation across the country.

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