A 37-year-old father of six, Buba Muhammed, has bagged one year jail term for illegal possession of solid minerals without lawful authority.
Buba Muhammed, a truck driver was convicted by a Federal High court sitting in Ilorin presided by Justice Muhammed Sani.
The trial judge also ordered the forfeiture of the truck used as means of transportation of the illegally acquired minerals to the Federal Government as they were confirmed by the Nigerian Geological Survey Agency, NGSA, to be lepidolite, montmorillonite and chrysocolla.
Lepidolite is one of the raw materials usually transported outside the country for the production of batteries for vehicles, cell phones, cameras and other electronic devices.
Zonal Commander of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ilorin Command, Micheal Nzekwe, had repeatedly warned operators in the mining sector in Kwara State against illegal mining activities and non-payment of royalties to the Federal Government, which he described as “acts of economic sabotage.”
Saga Gist reports that Buba, a father of six with two wives 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, acting on credible intelligence at Lade, Pategi Local Government Area of Kwara State.
The convict was one of the 13 suspects arrested by operatives of the EFCC on the said date while trying to transport a truckload of assorted crude minerals for sale outside the State.
Buba was prosecuted on one-count charge by the anti-graft agency, to which he pleaded guilty upon arraignment.
The charge sheet read; “That you, Buba Mohammed some time 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 plea, counsel to the EFCC, Andrew Akoja, reviewed the facts of the case and thereafter prayed the court to convict the defendant as charged.
Justice Sani, having found merit in the case of the prosecution on Tuesday, March 21, 2023 sentenced Buba to one year imprisonment with N400,000 option of fine.
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