15 Chinese nationals, nine Nigerians docked over alleged illegal Lithium mining in Nasarawa

Mining Marshals person arraigned 15 Chinese nationals, 9 Nigerian citizens, and a mining institution earlier the Federal High Court successful Abuja implicit alleged amerciable lithium mining operations successful Nasarawa State.

The defendants were brought earlier Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia of the Federal High Court, Abuja, pursuing their apprehension during a associated enforcement cognition connected May 16, 2026, successful Kokona Local Government Area of the state.

According to tribunal filings, the suspects were allegedly caught carrying retired mining activities without lawful authorisation wrong a mineral-rich country covered by Exploration Licence No. 036528-EL, legally held by TIMADIX Geomin Consult Ltd.

Prosecutors alleged that the accused persons engaged successful the unlawful extraction of lithium wrong the licensed mining portion located successful Kokona, an country progressively attracting attraction owed to its important coagulated mineral deposits.

Court documents revealed that the defendants were charged nether provisions of the Miscellaneous Offences Act, which criminalises unauthorised mining activities and different related offences.

The charge, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/281/2026, alleged that the accused persons unlawfully undertook mining operations without the requisite approvals and licences from applicable regulatory authorities.

Under Nigerian law, amerciable mining is regarded arsenic a superior economical crime, with penalties ranging from lengthy situation ...