Index to Nigerian Newspapers

A 46-year-old truck driver, Kasimu Bawa, has been arraigned for offences bordering on illegal mining and illegal possession of solid minerals contrary to and punishable under Section 1(8) (b) (i) of the Miscellaneous Offenses Act 1984. Kasimu was arraigned on an amended one-count charge before Justice Muhammed Sani of the Federal High Court sitting in Ilorin by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

He was the driver of the truck conveying solid minerals purchased without licence by a Chinese, Dang Deng, who was convicted and sentenced to five years imprisonment on October 19, 2022 by the same court. Kasimu was arrested by the EFCC on September 9, 2022, at the Share area of the state with a DAF truck numbered: KEY 777 ZF, containing 25 tonnes of solid minerals worth about N2.4m suspected to be products of illegal mining.

When the charge was read to him, the defendant pleaded not guilty.