27th May, 2024
The Ilorin Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned two persons for offences bordering on possession of solid minerals without lawful authority.
They are Nura Lawal and Tunde Jimoh.
The defendants were arraigned on one-count charge before Justice Uche Agomoh of the Federal High Court sitting in Ibadan, Oyo State.
While Lawal was the driver of a truck allegedly conveying about 30 tons of assorted solid minerals, Jimoh was the escort of the truck.
Their journey to the dock started when the Ilorin Command of the EFCC received intelligence about the activities of some people who were engaged in mining of solid minerals within Kwara and transporting same outside for commercial purposes without lawful authority.
The Commission swung into action and eventually arrested the two defendants on February 4, 2024 in Ogbomosho area of Oyo State.
The charge 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.”
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.
Following the pleas by the defendants, counsel to the EFCC, Mustapha Kaigama, urged the court to fix a date for review facts in the case of Lawal that pleaded guilty and trial in the case of the second defendant (Jimoh) that 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 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.”
The 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.