On Thursday, the police arraigned 41 people before a Federal High Court in Ibadan over alleged illegal mining.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the defendants were arraigned before Justice U.N. Agomoh.
They were arraigned on a two-count charge bordering on conspiracy and illegal mining.
The prosecution counsel, Mr. Michael Ojeah, told the court that the defendants, on Jan. 25, at Onipanu village in the Ibadan judicial division, conspired with one another to commit a felony, namely unlawful mining.
Ojeah said that the defendants, without lawful authority, did mines and concealed 24.96g of gold ore, valued at N1,248,000, extracted from an illegal mine site at Onipanu village, Ilaju, in Ibadan.
He said that under count one, the defendants violated Section 516 of the Criminal Code, Cap. 38, Vol. II, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria. 2004
Under count two, he said that the defendants committed an offense contrary to and punishable under Section 8(b) of the Miscellaneous Offenses Act, Cap. M17, Vol. 9, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that all the defendants pleaded guilty to the charges preferred against them.
Consequently, Ojeah informed the court that he was prepared to present the facts of the case since the defendants had pleaded guilty.
Insp. Awosanmi Abiola, who led the team of security operatives that arrested the defendants, testified before the judge on the facts of the case.
Abiola tendered the statements of five principal witnesses and those of the 41 defendants recorded after the arrest.
Agomoh admitted all the statements tendered and marked as exhibits 1 to 46, as the defendant’s counsel, Mr. Suraji Musa, did not object.
Musa, however, prayed to the court for a short adjournment for the continuation of case review.
Agomoh adjourned the matter till March 11 for the continuation of the prosecution’s review of the case. (NAN)
