The Mining Marshals have arraigned 15 Chinese nationals and nine Nigerians before the Federal High Court in Abuja over alleged involvement in illegal lithium mining activities in Nasarawa State.
The defendants were brought before Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia of Court 6, Federal High Court, Abuja Judicial Division, following their arrest on May 16, 2026, for allegedly conducting mining operations without lawful authority or a valid licence in Kokona Local Government Area of the state.
The suspects were arrested within a mineral title area covered by Exploration Licence No. 036528-EL, belonging to TIMADIX Geomin Consult Ltd. The alleged illegal mining activities reportedly took place within the coordinates of longitude 8° 4′ 12″E and latitude 8° 34′ 12″N.
According to the charge sheet, the defendants are accused of unlawfully engaging in mining activities in violation of Section 1(8)(b) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act, Cap. M17, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria (LFN), 2004.
The charge further states that the offence is punishable under the same provision and carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment upon conviction.
Those arraigned are Liu Jiabin, Hu Yunzhong, Zhou Yinmou, Zhao Feng, Zhang Yu, Tian Shuqun, Huang Ruqian, Liu Yanliang, Yang Xiaobin, Huang Meiyun, Yuan Tao, Jia Qiuyong, Chen Menghao, Deng Peiming, Yu Yanhai, and nine Nigerian nationals.
Others named in the charge include Thankgod Sani, Abubakar Nuhu, Jonathan Akpa Sunday, Pius Favour, Agada Joshua, Sani Osu, Haruna Asambe, Elenekou Akoete Joli, as well as C and A International New Energy Ltd.
At the commencement of proceedings, counsel to the defendants, Prof. M. T. Adekilekun, SAN, moved an application for bail on behalf of his clients, assuring the court that they would be available to stand trial.
Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia granted the application and ordered the defendants to be released to their counsel pending trial.
The court, however, did not impose any monetary bond, require sureties, or specify any sum to be forfeited in the event of a breach of bail conditions. Instead, the defendants were directed to deposit their international passports and national identity cards with the court registrar.
Speaking after the proceedings, the Lead Prosecution Counsel for the Mining Marshals, Mr. Ojo Toluwatope Alex, said the grant of bail was entirely at the discretion of the court.
He explained that, based on the ruling and the undertaking given by the senior advocate, the court effectively placed responsibility on defence counsel to ensure the defendants’ attendance throughout the trial.
Alex, however, expressed concern over the possibility of any of the defendants absconding, saying he hoped none of those released to the senior lawyer would jump bail.
The matter was adjourned until June 18, 2026, for trial.
Reacting to the development, the Commander of the Mining Marshals, Attah John Onoja, reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to sanitising the nation’s mining sector.
He described the crackdown on illegal mining as a national responsibility, stressing that sustained enforcement was necessary to rid the sector of unlawful operators and safeguard Nigeria’s mineral resources.