Businessman bags 12 months imprisonment for illegal purchase of Lithium
By Tunde Akanbi, Ilorin
Justice Muhammed Sani of the Federal High Court sitting in Ilorin, Kwara state capital, on Tuesday February 14, 2023 sentenced a businessman, Kingsley Ogala, to twelve months imprisonment without option of fine for purchasing a mineral, Lithium Lepidolite, without lawful authority.
Ogala and one Isah Musa were prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on a 3-count charge of possession of 30 tonnes of mineral without lawful authority.
Count one of the charge reads: “That you, Isah Musa and Kingsley Ogala sometime in September 2022, in Ilorin Kwara State, within the Judicial Division of the Federal High Court did conspire amongst yourselves to commit an offence to wit: without lawful authority, came into possession of 30 TONS of mineral conveyed in Truck with REGISTRATION NUMBER KNT482XA and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 3(6) of the Miscellaneous Offence Act 1983 and Punishable under Section 1(8) (b) of the same Act”
Isah pleaded not guilty while Ogala pleaded guilty upon arraignment.
Rashidat Alao who prosecuted the case on behalf of the EFCC, tendered documents in proof of the case and urged the court to convict the second defendant (Ogala) and also give a trial date to prove its case against the first defendant (Isah).
Justice Sani, in his judgement said that the prosecution had proved its case against Ogala and convicted him as charged. The Judge sentenced him to six months imprisonment each on count one and three which would run concurrently. The court also ordered the final forfeiture of the 30 tonnes of the illegally bought mineral to the Federal Government.
The judge on the other hand fixed March 15, 2022 for commencement of trial of the case involving the first defendant that pleaded not guilty to his charge.
Lepidolite is the name of a rare lithium-rich mica mineral that is usually pink, red, or purple in color. It is the most common lithium-bearing mineral and serves as a minor ore of lithium metal, with rubidium and cesium sometimes being byproducts. When impregnated with quartz, lepidolite is used as a minor gemstone.
