A total of 41 men were brought before the Federal High Court in Ibadan on Thursday, March 7, on charges related to illegal mining.
The defendants appeared before Justice Uche Agomoh following action by the federal government through the Nigeria Police.
They faced a two-count charge including conspiracy and engaging in illegal mining.
Prosecuting counsel for the police, Michael Ojeah, informed the court that on January 25, the defendants, at Onipanu village in Ibadan, conspired to commit a felony by engaging in unlawful mining activities.
Ojeah added that without legal authorization, the defendants mined and concealed 24.96 grams of gold ore, valued at N1,248,000, extracted from an illegal mine site at Onipanu village, Ilaju in Ibadan.
Under count one, the defendants were charged with violating sections 516 of the Criminal Code, Cap 38, vol. 11, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
Under count two, they were accused of committing an offence contrary to and punishable under section 8(b) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act, Cap M17, Volume.9, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
All 41 defendants pleaded guilty to the charges.
Following their pleas, Ojeah expressed readiness to present the facts of the case.
Inspector Awosanmi Abiola, who led the team that apprehended the defendants, testified before Justice Agomoh, submitting statements from five principal witnesses and statements from the defendants recorded after their arrest.
Justice Agomoh admitted all the statements as exhibits 1 – 46, with no objections from the defendants’ counsel, Suraji Musa.
Musa requested a brief adjournment for the continuation of the case review, which Justice Agomoh granted, scheduling the next hearing for March 11.
