The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has secured the conviction of Kasimu Bawa, a 50-year-old truck driver from Wukari Local Government Area of Taraba State, for unlawful possession of minerals worth N2.4 million. Bawa was sentenced to two years imprisonment by Justice Abimbola Awogboro of the Federal High Court in Ilorin, Kwara State, after being found guilty of violating Section 1(8)(b)(i) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act, 1984. The conviction follows a trial that highlighted the commission’s ongoing efforts to combat illegal mining and mineral trafficking in Nigeria. The case underscores the legal consequences of transporting minerals without proper authorization, especially in regions prone to illicit mining activities.
Bawa was arrested on September 9, 2022, by operatives of the Ilorin Zonal Directorate of the EFCC at Share, along Tsaragi Road in Edu Local Government Area of Kwara State. He was found in possession of 25 tons of suspected illegally mined minerals loaded into a DAF truck with registration number KEY 777ZF and chassis number KLRAD85XCOE603462. The minerals were later confirmed by the Nigerian Geological Survey Agency (NGSA) to be lepidolite, a lithium-bearing mineral with significant economic value. The arrest came as part of a broader operation targeting illegal mineral trade, which also led to the earlier conviction of a Chinese national, Gang Deng, who received a five-year prison sentence on October 19, 2022, for similar offences.
Bawa was arraigned on November 1, 2022, on a single count of possessing minerals without lawful authority. He pleaded not guilty, prompting a full trial. During the proceedings, the prosecution presented two witnesses, including Chief Remote Sensing Officer Ifarinde Odeyemi from the NGSA and the investigating officer. Odeyemi testified that laboratory analysis confirmed the minerals as lepidolite, a finding that strengthened the prosecution’s case. The defence also called two witnesses, including Bawa himself, but failed to provide sufficient evidence to challenge the prosecution’s claims.
In his final address, prosecuting counsel Innocent Mbachie argued that the evidence proved Bawa’s guilt beyond reasonable doubt. He also urged the court to order the forfeiture of both the truck and the minerals to the Federal Government. Justice Awogboro agreed, convicting Bawa and sentencing him to two years imprisonment, with an option to pay a fine of N5 million. The court also ordered the forfeiture of the seized truck and minerals, reinforcing the government’s stance against illegal mining and unlicensed mineral transportation.
This case highlights the increasing scrutiny on mineral trafficking in Nigeria, particularly in states like Kwara and Taraba, where illegal mining operations are common. The EFCC’s actions demonstrate a commitment to enforcing laws that protect Nigeria’s natural resources and ensure compliance with national regulations. As the country continues to develop its mining sector, such convictions send a clear message to would-be offenders that illegal activities will not be tolerated.
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