By Adeola Badru, Ibadan 

41 suspects were arraigned on Thursday afternoon at a Federal High Court sitting in Ibadan over illegal mining in the state.

The defendants were arraigned before Justice UN Agomoh by the federal government through the Nigeria Police. 

The defendants were arraigned on a two-count charge bordering on conspiracy and illegal mining.

The police prosecuting counsel, Mr Michael Ojeah, told the court that the 41 defendants, on Jan. 25, at Onipanu village in the Ibadan judicial division, conspired with one another to commit a felony of unlawful mining.

Ojeah further said the defendants, without lawful authority, mined and concealed 24.96 grams of gold ore, valued at N1,248,000, extracted from an illegal mine site at Onipanu village, Ilaju, in Ibadan. 

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

Under 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 41 defendants pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Ojeah subsequently 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 a team of security operatives that arrested the defendants, testified before Justice Agomoh on the facts of the case.

Abiola tendered the 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 defendant’s counsel, Mr Suraji Musa, did not object.

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