Fifteen Chinese nationals and nine Nigerians have been arraigned before the Federal High Court in Abuja over alleged illegal lithium mining in Nasarawa State. This marks the third high-profile criminal case involving Chinese nationals in Nigeria within a single month.
Court Proceedings
The defendants appeared before Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia of Court 6 on May 16, 2026. They were arrested by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps Mining Marshals. The suspects are accused of mining lithium without a valid licence in Kokona Local Government Area of Nasarawa State. According to the NSCDC, the illegal mining occurred within the mineral title area covered by Exploration Licence No. 036528-EL, which belongs to TIMADIX Geomin Consult Ltd. The court has set June 18, 2026, for the commencement of trial.
List of Defendants
The fifteen Chinese nationals standing trial are Liu Jiabin, Hu Yunzhong, Zhou Yinmou, Zhao Feng, Zhang Yu, Tian Shuqun, Huang Ruqian, Liu Yanliang, Yang Xiaobin, Huang Meiyun, Yuan Tao, Jia Qiuyong, Chen Menghao, Deng Peiming, and Yu Yanhai. The nine Nigerians arraigned alongside them include Thankgod Sani, Abubakar Nuhu, Jonathan Akpa Sunday, Pius Favour, Agada Joshua, Sani Osu, Haruna Asambe, Elenekou Akoete Joli, and a company, C and A International New Energy Ltd.
Pattern of Criminal Cases
This arraignment is the latest in a series of criminal cases involving Chinese nationals in Nigeria over the past month. In a separate incident, a 63-year-old Chinese woman, Ting Hung Kiong, was arrested by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency for allegedly attempting to smuggle 31 kilograms of Canadian Loud, a synthetic cannabis strain, into Nigeria. In another case, Nigerian police arrested a Chinese fugitive linked to a $245 million Ponzi scheme, who was found hiding inside a factory in Ogun State. These three cases—illegal mining, drug smuggling, and financial fraud—span different states and criminal activities, drawing scrutiny to the operations of Chinese nationals in Nigeria's economy.
Growing Interest in Lithium Reserves
Nigeria's lithium reserves, concentrated in the north-central region, have attracted significant foreign interest. The NSCDC Mining Marshals have intensified operations against illegal mining as the government tightens control over the solid minerals sector.
