A Federal High Court in Lagos has sentenced two Chinese nationals, Zhang Lin and Gao Hai, to five years in prison each for illegal mining operations in Nigeria.
The verdict, handed down by Justice Akintayo Aluko, follows a prosecution by the Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The convictions mark a significant escalation in judicial action against foreign nationals involved in the illicit extraction of critical minerals on the continent.
The case underscores the growing regulatory scrutiny surrounding the supply chains of lithium and copper, two metals essential for the global energy transition.
Nigeria, endowed with substantial mineral reserves, has struggled to curb illegal mining activities that deprive the state of revenue and pose environmental and safety risks.
The EFCC’s successful prosecution demonstrates a coordinated effort to enforce mining laws and deter unauthorized extraction by foreign entities.