By Samson Chike, Abuja

The Federal High Court in Lagos has convicted and sentenced two Chinese nationals, Zhang Hong Lin and Gao Pei Hai, to 25 years imprisonment each for their involvement in the illegal export of Nigeria’s mineral resources.

Delivering judgment on Friday, Justice Akintayo Aluko found the defendants guilty on a five-count charge filed against them and ordered that all mineral resources recovered from them be forfeited to the Federal Government.

The court sentenced both convicts to 25 years imprisonment each, with an option of a ₦10 million fine on each count.

The two men were arraigned alongside Gao Pei Yu, who remains at large.

According to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the defendants conspired to deprive the Federal Government of revenue generated from Nigeria’s solid mineral resources by attempting to export valuable minerals without obtaining the necessary approvals from relevant authorities.

The anti-graft agency told the court that on May 28, 2025, the defendants attempted to export mica, copper-bearing minerals, and lithium-bearing minerals without authorization, thereby violating Nigeria’s mining and export regulations.

The EFCC further alleged that on May 9, 2025, the accused persons unlawfully possessed various mineral resources intended for export without lawful authority.

Prosecutors argued that the actions of the defendants constituted a deliberate effort to undermine government control over the nation’s mineral wealth and evade statutory revenue obligations.

The commission maintained that the offences contravened Section 1(8)(a) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act, 1983, and urged the court to impose appropriate sanctions to deter similar crimes.

Justice Aluko agreed with the prosecution’s submissions and consequently convicted the defendants, ordering the forfeiture of the seized minerals to the Federal Government.

The judgment represents another major enforcement action against illegal mining and unauthorized mineral exports, which have continued to deprive Nigeria of substantial revenue and pose challenges to effective resource governance.

The conviction also adds to the growing list of Chinese nationals prosecuted and convicted for economic and financial crimes in Nigeria.

In February, the Federal High Court in Lagos sentenced two Chinese nationals, Huang Haoyu and An Hongxu, to 46 years imprisonment each after they were found guilty of cybercrime and money laundering offences.

Similarly, in June 2025, the court convicted and sentenced nine Chinese nationals to one year imprisonment each for offences related to cyber-terrorism and internet fraud.

Observers say the latest conviction underscores the determination of Nigerian authorities to crack down on illegal exploitation of the country’s natural resources and ensure that offenders face the full weight of the law.