On Wednesday, May 22, 2024, the Ilorin Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arraigned Tunde Jimoh and Nura Lawal for offenses related to unlawful possession of solid minerals.
Judge Uche Agomoh of the Federal High Court in Ibadan, Oyo State, arraigned the defendants on a single count charge.
Jimoh was the truck’s escort, and Lawal was the driver of a vehicle that was purportedly transporting around thirty tons of different solid minerals.
Their trip to the dock began when the EFCC’s Ilorin Command learned of certain individuals extracting solid minerals inside Kwara and moving them outside for commercial uses without the required legal license.
Following a swift response by the Commission, the two defendants were apprehended in the Ogbomosho region of Oyo State on February 4, 2024.
The accusation made against the defendants reads: “That you, Nura Lawal and Tunde Jimoh sometime in February 2024 within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court, without lawful authority were found in possession of minerals conveyed in a truck with plate number T3815LA contrary to, and punishable under Section 1 (8) (b) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act Cap M17, 1983”
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Lawal pleaded guilty when the accusation was read to him in Hausa and in English, while Jimoh pleaded not guilty.
Following a swift response by the Commission, the two defendants were apprehended in the Ogbomosho region of Oyo State on February 4, 2024.
Lawal pleaded guilty to the charge read in English Language and interpreted to him in Hausa Language, while Jimoh pleaded not guilty to the charge.
There was no objection to the prosecution’s prayer by Lawal’s counsel, C. I Ipinsokan. However, Jimoh’s counsel, Michael Adetayo urged the court to fix an early date to enable him to move the bail application of his client while praying the court to allow the defendant to continue on the administrative bail earlier granted him by the Commission. Justice Agomoh after listening to the parties, refused the prayer by Jimoh’s counsel, saying,
“The proper place to keep an inmate under the law is the Nigerian Correctional Centre.” He also said, “The court cannot give a date to hear and determine a bail application that is yet to be filed before it.”
he judge thereafter ordered that the defendants be remanded at Nigerian Correctional Centre, Agodi, Ibadan and adjourned till June 5, 2024 for review of facts in Lawal’s case and trial in the case of Jimoh.
EFCC Arraigns Two for Possession of Solid Minerals without Licence
The Ilorin Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC on Wednesday, May 22, 2024 arraigned two persons for offences bordering on possession of solid minerals without lawful authority.… pic.twitter.com/IAXhaC6CqL
— EFCC Nigeria (@officialEFCC) May 27, 2024
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