Truck driver gets one-year jail term for illegal mining
The Ilorin Division of the Federal High Court on Wednesday convicted and sentenced Buba Muhammed, a 37-year-old truck driver, to 12 months’ imprisonment for unlawful possession of 30 tonnes of solid minerals.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) prosecuted the convict on a one-count charge of unlawful possession of 30 tonnes of solid minerals, to which he pleaded guilty.
Justice Muhammed Sani, having found merit in the prosecution case, sentenced Mr Buba to one-year imprisonment with an option of a N400,000 fine.
Mr Sani also ordered the forfeiture of the truck used to transport the illegally acquired minerals to the federal government.
The charge against him reads, “That you, Buba Mohammed, sometime in September 2022 at Lade, Pategi Local Government Area, Kwara State, within the Judicial Division of the Federal High Court and thereby committed an offence to wit, without lawful authority, come into possession of 30 tonnes of mineral conveyed in an INVECO Truck with identification mark: KUJ60XC and Chassis No:ZCFAIVPJ001161598 contrary to and punishable under Section 1(8) (b) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act 1983.”
Following his guilty plea, counsel to the EFCC, Andrew Akoja, reviewed the facts of the case and prayed the court to convict the defendant as charged.
According to the EFCC, Mr Muhammed 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, Pategi Local Government Area of the state.
He was one of the 13 suspects arrested by operatives of the EFCC while trying to transport a truckload of assorted crude minerals for sale outside the state.
According to the commission, the Nigerian Geological Survey Agency (NGSA) confirmed the mineral to be lepidolite, montmorillonite, and chrysocolla.
Lepidolite is one of the raw materials usually transported outside the country to produce batteries for vehicles, cell phones, cameras, and other electronic devices.
(NAN)
We have recently deactivated our website's comment provider in favour of other channels of distribution and commentary. We encourage you to join the conversation on our stories via our Facebook, Twitter and other social media pages.
More from Peoples Gazette
Politics
Katsina youths pledge to deliver over 2 million votes to Atiku
“Katsina State is Atiku’s political base because it is his second home.”
NationWide
Nigeria’s justice minister vows to push for national judicial policy
Mr Fagbemi said this at the 2024 National Judicial Summit on the Justice Sector, held on Wednesday in Abuja.
World
National Enquirer helped Trump ‘catch and kill’ stories to win 2016 election: Ex-publisher
The ex-tabloid publisher said he doled out $30,000 to Dino Sajudin, who worked as a doorman for Mr Trump.
Abuja
Police arrest Okada rider over alleged cheating
The judge, Saminu Suleiman, gave the order after Mr Garba had pleaded not guilty to criminal breach of trust and cheating preferred against him by the police.
NationWide
FG suspends Dana Air operations as plane skids off runway
Eighty-three passengers were aboard the aircraft that skidded off the runway.
Africa
‘Numerous’ terrorists killed in Damasak, Mobbar airstrikes, MNJTF says
The troops said the airstrikes led “to the reduction in terrorism and other forms of cross-border crimes perpetrated by criminals crisis-crossing the borders to evade justice.”
Economy
ACCI advises FG to viable policies to strengthen naira
“Together, let us chart a course towards a stronger, more prosperous economic future for Nigeria,” said the ACCI president.