Fifteen Chinese nationals, nine Nigerian citizens, and a mining company have been brought before the Federal High Court in Abuja over allegations of illegal lithium mining activities in Nasarawa State.
The defendants were arraigned before Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia following their arrest by Mining Marshals during a joint enforcement operation conducted on May 16, 2026, in Kokona Local Government Area.
According to court documents, the suspects were allegedly engaged in unauthorized mining activities within a mineral-rich area covered by Exploration Licence No. 036528-EL, which is legally owned by TIMADIX Geomin Consult Ltd.
Prosecutors accused the defendants of unlawfully extracting lithium from the licensed mining site in Kokona, an area that has attracted significant interest due to its abundant solid mineral resources.
The charge, filed under case number FHC/ABJ/CR/281/2026, alleges that the accused persons carried out mining operations without obtaining the necessary approvals and licences from the relevant regulatory authorities.
The defendants were charged under provisions of the Miscellaneous Offences Act, which criminalises illegal mining and related offences. Under Nigerian law, such offences are treated as serious economic crimes and may attract severe penalties, including lengthy prison terms and, in certain circumstances, life imprisonment.
Those named in the charge include 15 Chinese nationals and nine Nigerians, alongside C and A International New Energy Ltd.
The case represents one of the most significant enforcement actions undertaken by the Mining Marshals since the Federal Government intensified efforts to combat illegal mining across the country.
Authorities have consistently warned that illegal mining deprives the nation of valuable revenue, damages the environment, and creates unfair competition for legitimate operators within the mining sector.