Father Of 6 Jailed 1 Year For Illegal Mining In Kwara
Justice Muhammed Sani of the Federal High Court sitting in Ilorin, Kwara State, has convicted and sentenced one Buba Muhammed, a 37-year-old truck-driver and father of six children, to one-year imprisonment for possession of solid minerals without lawful authority.
The judge also ordered the forfeiture of the truck used as means of transportation of the illegally acquired minerals to the federal government as they were confirmed by the Nigerian Geological Survey Agency (NGSA) to be lepidolite, montmorillonite and chrysocolla.
LEADERSHIP reports that Lepidolite is one of the raw materials usually transported outside the country for production of batteries for vehicles, cell phones, cameras and other electronic devices.
It will be recalled that the Zonal Commander of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Ilorin Command, Michael Nzekwe, had repeatedly warned operators in the mining sector in Kwara State against illegal mining activities and non-payment of royalties to the federal government, which he described as “acts of economic sabotage.”
Buba, the father of six with two wives began his journey to the Nigerian Correctional Centre on August 30, 2022, when he was arrested by operatives of the Ilorin Zonal Command of the EFCC, while acting on credible intelligence at Lade, Patigi local government area of the state.
He was one of the 13 suspects arrested by operatives of the EFCC on the said date, while trying to transport a truckload of assorted minerals for sale outside the State.
Buba was prosecuted on one-count charge by the anti-graft agency, to which he pleaded guilty upon arraignment.
Following his plea, counsel to the EFCC, Andrew Akoja, reviewed the facts of the case and thereafter prayed the court to convict the defendant as charged.
Justice Sani, having found merit in the case of the prosecution sentenced Buba to one year imprisonment with N400,000 option of fine, while ordering the forfeiture of the truck and its mineral contents to the federal government.
Cloud Tag: What's trending
Click on a word/phrase to read more about it.
Code Of Conduct Tribunal Ayo Adeyemi Taofeek Sanusi Busari Toyin Isiaka Abdulrosheed Okiki Raji AbdulRasaq Maryam Ado Bayero NNPP Saad Omo Iya Ramadan KWASEIC Convocation Ceremonies CACOVID Azeez Salawu Makama Of Ilorin LAK Jimoh Aliyu Muhammed Turaki Afeyin-Olukuta Rex Olawoye Isiaka Yusuf Abdulquawiy Olododo Elerinjare Kayode Yusuf Aminu Adisa Logun Prince Mahe Abdulkadir Oja-Oba Bahago Osinbajo Bello Abubakar Abdulrasheed Lafia Quarry Royal Valley Ilesha-Gwanara Usman Yunusa Standard Organization Of Nigeria Kola Shittu Kwara State Television (KWTV) Olayinka Are Samari Soffiyyallah Kamaldeen Kwara State Governor Wahab Agbaje Salihu Yahaya CCEPE Gurei Ayobami Akanbi Abdullahi Dasilva Yussuf Habeeb Saidu Abiodun Musa Aibinu Muslim Stakeholders Of Kwara State Mubarak Oladosu Admiralty Villa Pius Abioje Gbemisola Saraki Ishola Moses Abiodun Ilorin Talaka Parapo Olosi Of Osi Halidu Danbaba Abraham Ojo Federal Allocation Laduba Chief Imam Of Lafiagi Tafida Of Ilorin Towoju Hussein Oloyede Dan-Kazeem Abdulmajeed Abdullahi Kwara State Geographic Information Service Kubra Kazum Michael Ologundea Jimoh Lambe Abdulkareem Ajike People Support Centre Dunmade Kolawole Akande Gbugbu International Market Tunji Folami Rasheed Jimoh

