The federal high court sitting in Lagos has convicted and sentenced two Chinese nationals, Zhang Hong Lin and Gao Pei Hai, for illegally exporting Nigeria’s mineral resources.
Akintayo Aluko, the presiding judge, on Friday, convicted the Chinese nationals on a five-count charge and ordered the forfeiture of all the mineral resources recovered from them to the federal government.
The judge sentenced Zhang and Gao to 25 years’ imprisonment each, with an option of a N10 million fine on each count.
Zhang and Gao were charged alongside Gao Pei Yu, who is currently at large.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) alleged that on May 28, 2025, the defendants conspired to defraud the federal government of revenue accruing from the country’s solid mineral resources by attempting to export mica, copper-bearing and lithium-bearing minerals without the approval of the appropriate authorities.
The anti-graft agency also alleged that on May 9, 2025, the defendants unlawfully possessed various mineral resources intended for export without lawful authority.
The EFCC said the offences contravened section 1(8)(a) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act, 1983.
The conviction adds to the growing number of Chinese nationals convicted of crimes in Nigeria.
In February, the federal high court in Lagos sentenced two Chinese nationals, Huang Haoyu and An Hongxu, to 46 years’ imprisonment each on charges bordering on cybercrime and money laundering.
In June 2025, the court convicted and sentenced nine Chinese nationals to one year’s imprisonment each for cyber-terrorism and internet fraud.
