By Adeola Badru
Ibadan —Forty-one suspects were, yesterday, arraigned before a Federal High Court sitting in Ibadan, Oyo State over illegal mining in the state.

The defendants were arraigned before Justice U. Agomoh by the Federal Government through the Nigeria Police.
The defendants were arraigned on a two-count charge of conspiracy and illegal mining.

The Police prosecuting counsel, Mr Michael Ojeah, told the court that the 41 defendants on January 25, at Onipanu village in Ibadan judicial division, did conspire with one another to commit a felony to wit: unlawful mining.

Ojeah said the defendants without lawful authority mined and concealed 24.96 grams of gold ore, valued at N1.248 million, extracted from an illegal mining site at Onipanu village, Ilaju in Ibadan.

According to him, on count one, the defendants violated section 516 of the Criminal Code, Cap 38, vol. 11, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria. 2004.

On count two, he said the defendants committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 8(b) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act, Cap M17, Volume.9, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

All the 41 defendants pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Ojeah, subsequently informed the court that he was prepared to present fact of the case since the defendants have pleaded guilty.

Insp. Awosanmi Abiola, who led a team of security operatives that arrested the defendants testified before Justice Agomoh on fact of the case.

Abiola tendered statements of five principal witnesses and statements of the 41 defendants recorded after the arrest.

Justice Agomoh admitted all the statements tendered and were marked as exhibits 1 – 46, as the defendants’ counsel, Mr. Suraji Musa did not object.

Musa, however, prayed the court for a short adjournment for continuation of case review, which Justice Agomoh granted and adjourned until March 11, for continuation of prosecution’s review of the case.

sensitisation: Delta State Commissioner for Oil and Gas, Olorogun Vincent Oyibode, management staff of the ministry and LPG operators during a sensitisation programme on safety in handling of LPG, in Asaba, Delta State.