EFCC arraigns Chinese siblings, Nigerian over illegal mineral exports

The Enugu Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Tuesday, November 12, 2024, brought two Chinese brothers, Wang Jian and Wang Richard, alongside a Nigerian, Michael Agu, before Justice Mohammed Garba Umar of the Federal High Court, Enugu.

The trio faced a three-count charge, including the illegal exportation of mineral ore and possession of mineral resources without authorization.

According to a statement released by the EFCC on Friday, the charges were brought under relevant laws governing mineral resources in Nigeria.

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One of the charges reads: “That you, Wang Jian, Richard Wang and Michael Berneth Agu, sometime in 2024 in Enugu, within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court of Nigeria, with intent to defraud, did conspire amongst yourselves to commit a felony to wit: exporting of Mineral Ore without the permission of appropriate authority and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 8 (a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006 and punishable under Section 1 (3) of the same Act.”

Another count alleged possession of fifteen pieces of mineral ore without lawful authority, contrary to Section 1 (8) (b) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act, Cap M17, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

The defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges. Following their pleas, EFCC counsel, ACE I Onjefu Obe, requested a trial date and asked for the defendants to be remanded at the Enugu Correctional Facility.

However, the defense counsel, Peter Eze, applied orally for bail, citing medical concerns for the first defendant, Wang Jian, and ongoing discussions for a plea bargain for the other two defendants. He appealed to the court for leniency in granting bail.

The prosecution acknowledged the sensitivity of the case, noting its importance at both federal and local levels. “We are open for any kind of plea bargain and accelerated hearing in order to end this case as soon as possible,” EFCC counsel stated.

After hearing both sides, Justice Umar granted bail to the defendants, setting the sum at N10 million each with two sureties in like amount. The sureties must be reputable residents of Enugu State. Additionally, the defendants were ordered to deposit their international passports with the court.

The court remanded the accused persons to the Enugu State Correctional Facility pending the fulfillment of their bail conditions. The trial was adjourned to January 21, 2025.

The case began on November 3, 2024, when the EFCC received intelligence from the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) regarding Wang Jian. He was intercepted at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, during a baggage screening, where three pieces of suspicious mineral ore were discovered in his luggage.

According to EFCC, further investigations revealed Jian’s intention to transport the ore to China for testing. His arrest on November 3, 2024, led to the subsequent detention of Richard Wang and Michael Berneth Agu at the EFCC’s Enugu office.

The EFCC stated that the trio conspired to export the mineral resources without obtaining the requisite permits from the appropriate authorities.