Two Chinese nationals jailed for 25 years each over illegal export of Nigeria’s mineral resources

Zhang Hong Lin and Gao Pei Hai, jailed for illegally exporting Nigeria’s mineral resources

The Federal High Court in Lagos has sentenced two Chinese nationals, Zhang Hong Lin and Gao Pei Hai, to a combined 50 years in prison for illegally dealing in and attempting to export Nigeria’s mineral resources without the required government approval.

Justice Akintayo Aluko convicted the two men on a five-count charge on Friday and ordered the forfeiture of all mineral resources recovered from them to the Federal Government.

Zhang and Gao were each sentenced to 25 years’ imprisonment, with an option of a ₦10 million fine on each count.

The case, prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), involved allegations of conspiracy to deprive the Federal Government of revenue from Nigeria’s solid mineral sector.

Mica, copper and lithium at centre of case

According to the EFCC, the defendants conspired on May 28, 2025, to unlawfully export mineral resources including mica, copper-bearing minerals and lithium-bearing minerals without obtaining the necessary approvals from the relevant authorities.

The anti-graft agency also alleged that the defendants were found in unlawful possession of various mineral resources intended for export on May 9, 2025.

The charges were brought under Section 1(8)(a) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act, 1983.

The court's decision now brings the prosecution to a conclusion for Zhang and Gao, while a third defendant, Gao Pei Yu, remains at large.

Court orders forfeiture

Beyond the prison sentences, Justice Aluko ordered that the mineral resources recovered in connection with the offences be forfeited to the Federal Government.

The forfeiture underscores the growing scrutiny of activities involving Nigeria's mineral deposits, particularly as the Federal Government intensifies efforts to clamp down on illegal mining and unauthorised movement of solid minerals out of the country.

Nigeria possesses substantial deposits of lithium, gold, tin, tantalite, copper and other commercially valuable minerals, with the government increasingly looking to the sector as a source of revenue and economic diversification.

Illegal mining and unauthorised mineral exports, however, have continued to raise concerns over lost government revenue and the depletion of natural resources.

Another Chinese national remains at large

Zhang and Gao were prosecuted alongside Gao Pei Yu, who remains at large.

The EFCC's case against the defendants centred on alleged efforts to move mineral resources out of Nigeria without the approvals required under the country's laws.

Their conviction adds to a growing list of criminal cases involving foreign nationals, including Chinese citizens, prosecuted by Nigerian authorities for offences ranging from illegal mining and mineral-related activities to financial crimes.

The latest judgment also sends a clear message to operators in Nigeria's lucrative but increasingly scrutinised mining sector: mineral wealth cannot be extracted, stockpiled or exported outside the regulatory framework without consequences.

For the two convicted men, the immediate choice is stark — 25 years behind bars or a ₦10 million fine on each of the five counts.