Forty-one men were, on Thursday, arraigned at a Federal High Court in Ibadan on a two-count charge bordering on conspiracy and illegal mining.
The defendants were arraigned before Justice U.N. Agomoh by the Federal Government through the Nigeria Police Force (NPF).
The police prosecuting counsel, Mr Michael Ojeah, told the court that the 41 defendants, on January 25, at Onipanu village in Ibadan judicial division, did conspire with one another to commit a felony with: unlawful mining.
Ojeah further said the defendants without lawful authority did mine and conceal 24.96 grams of gold ore, valued at N1,248,000, extracted from an illegal mine site at Onipanu village, Ilaju in Ibadan.
According to him, under count one, the defendants violated sections 516 of the Criminal Code, Cap 38, vol. 11, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria. 2004
All the 41 defendants pleaded guilty to the charge.
Ojeah subsequently informed the court that he was prepared to present facts of the case since the defendants have pleaded guilty.
Insp. Awosanmi Abiola, who led a team of security operatives that arrested the defendants testified before Justice Agomoh on the facts of the case.
Abiola tendered statements of five principal witnesses and statements of the 41 defendants recorded after the arrest.
Justice Agomoh admitted all the statements tendered and were marked as exhibits 1 – 46, as the defendants’ counsel, Mr Suraji Musa did not object.
Musa, however, prayed the court for a short adjournment for continuation of case review which Justice Agomoh granted and adjourned until March 11, for continuation of prosecution’s review of the case.
