The Ilorin Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned Nura Lawal and Tunde Jimoh, over unlawful possession of solid minerals in Oyo state.
The defendants were arraigned on one-count charge before Justice Uche Agomoh of the Federal High Court sitting in Ibadan, Oyo State after the Ilorin Command of the EFCC received intelligence about their activities.
According to EFCC, some people were engaged in mining of solid minerals within Kwara and transporting the same outside for commercial purposes without lawful authority.
This Prompted the Commission to swing into action and the two defendants (Lawal and Jimoh) were arrested on 4th February 2024, in Ogbomosho area of Oyo State.
Explained further in a press statement issued on Monday through its spokesman, Dele Oyewale, that Lawal is alleged to be the driver of a truck allegedly conveying about 30 tons of assorted solid minerals, while Jimoh happened to be the truck escort.
The duo were then arraigned on Wednesday last week and the charges against them read:
“That you, Nura Lawal and Tunde Jimoh sometime in February 2024 within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court, without lawful authority were found in possession of minerals conveyed in a truck with plate number T3815LA contrary to, and punishable under Section 1 (8) (b) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act Cap M17, 1983.”
Meanwhile, Lawal had pleaded guilty to the charge read in English Language and interpreted to him in Hausa Language, while Jimoh pleaded not guilty to the charge.
However, counsel to the EFCC, Mustapha Kaigama, urged the court to fix a date for review of the facts in the case of Lawal that pleaded guilty and to commence trial in the case of the second defendant (Jimoh) who pleaded not guilty.
On his part, Lawal’s legal counsel, C. Ipinsokan did not object to the prayers of the EFCC Counsel, but Jimoh’s counsel, Michael Adetayo urged the court to fix an early date to enable him move the bail application of his client.
He also prayed for the court to allow the defendant to continue on the administrative bail earlier granted him by the Commission.
The presiding however, decided to grant Jimoh’s prayers made through his counsel, saying, “The proper place to keep an inmate under the law is the Nigerian Correctional Centre.”
The judge also said, “The court cannot give a date to hear and determine a bail application that is yet to be filed before it.”
The matter was them adjourned to 5th May 2024 for review of facts in Lawal’s case and trial in the case of Jimoh, and the defendants were remanded at Nigerian Correctional Centre, Agodi, Ibadan.