The Ilorin Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Monday, April 22, 2024 arraigned two Chinese: Duan Ya Hong and Xiao Yi alongside their company, Ebuy Concept Limited before Justice Evelyn Anyadike of the Federal High Court sitting in Ilorin over alleged illegal mining activities.
Specifically, the defendants were arraigned on one-count bordering on possession of solid minerals without licence and non-payment of royalties to the Federal Government as required by law.
The charge reads:
“That you, Ebuy Trading Worldwide Nig.LTD, Duan Ya Hong, Xiao Yi sometime in the Month of February 2024 at Banni, in Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State, within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court, without lawful authority, purchased minerals to wit; 30 tons of minerals conveyed in a Truck, with Registration Number JJJ 386 XT and thereby committed an offence, contrary to and punishable under Section 1(8)(b) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act 1984”
The defendants pleaded not guilty to the charge, which was read in English and interpreted to them in Chinese Language.
Following their pleas, counsel to the EFCC, Innocent Mbachie, prayed the court to remand the defendants in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Service pending the hearing and determination of the case. He further prayed the court to fix a date for trial to enable the prosecution to prove its case.
Responding, counsel to the defendants, A. A Aromolaran prayed the court to admit his clients to bail. He stated that the international passports of the defendants were already in the custody of the Commission, adding that there was no way they would not be available for trial just as he assured that they would not interfere with investigations or intimidate witnesses.
Justice Anyadike, after entertaining arguments and counter arguments from both sides, granted bail to the defendants in the sum of N5million naira with two sureties each in like sum.
The judge ordered that the sureties must be landowners within the jurisdiction of the court and must deposit the deeds of title of the properties with the court’s registry. The court also ordered that the sureties must provide evidence of payment of electricity bills for the past ten months and evidence of tax payments for the past three years.
Thereafter, the judge ordered that the defendants be remanded in the custody of the EFCC pending the perfection of their bail conditions and adjourned the matter till May 16, 2024, for commencement of trial.
On her way she met a copy. The copy warned the Little Blind Text, that where it came from it would have been rewritten a thousand times and everything that was left from its origin would be the word “and” and the Little Blind Text should turn around and return to its own, safe country. But nothing the copy said could convince her and so it didn’t take long until a few insidious Copy Writers ambushed her, made her drunk with Longe and Parole and dragged her into their agency, where they abused her for their.
The Big Oxmox advised her not to do so, because there were thousands of bad Commas, wild Question Marks and devious Semikoli, but the Little Blind Text didn’t listen. She packed her seven versalia, put her initial into the belt and made herself on the way. When she reached the first hills of the Italic Mountains, she had a last view back on the skyline of her hometown Bookmarksgrove, the headline of Alphabet Village and the subline of her own road, the Line Lane. Pityful a rethoric question ran over her cheek, then she continued her way.
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