Justice Daniel Osiagor of a Federal High Court in Lagos has ordered the permanent forfeiture of assets recovered from suspects involved in illegal mining activities in Ogun State to the Federal Government.
The order was sequel to the granting of an application by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) seeking custody and disposal of the seized assets under relevant provisions of the law.
In the application, the anti-graft agency also urged the court that it be allowed, in collaboration with the Nigerian Geological Survey Agency and court officials, to dispose of the assets, with proceeds to be kept in an interest-bearing account pending the conclusion of the criminal trial.
After reviewing the evidence presented, Justice Osiagor granted the application and ordered that the assets be forfeited and disposed of, with proceeds remitted into an interest-bearing account pending the determination of the case.
In an affidavit deposed to by one of its operatives, EFCC indicated that investigations revealed that a syndicate comprising Chinese and Nigerians was involved in illegal mining and export of mineral resources, particularly mica and lithium.
The minerals were said to have been sourced from different parts of the country and transported to a processing site in Ode-Remo, Ogun State, before being prepared for export through Apapa Wharf and the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos.
