BY NKECHI NAECHE-ESEZOBOR–Justice Muhammed Sani of the Federal High Court sitting in Ilorin, Kwara State has convicted and sentenced one Buba Muhammed, a 37-year-old truck driver, to one-year imprisonment for possession of solid minerals confirmed by the Nigerian Geological Survey Agency, NGSA, to be lepidolite, montmorillonite and chrysocolla, without lawful authority.
Lepidolite is one of the raw materials used in the production of batteries for vehicles, cell phones, cameras and other electronic devices.
The judge also ordered the forfeiture of the truck used as means of transportation of the illegally acquired minerals to the Federal Government.
Buba, began his journey to the Nigerian Correctional Service’s Custodial Centre on August 30, 2022, when he was arrested by operatives of the Ilorin Zonal Command of the EFCC, while acting on credible intelligence at Lade, Pategi Local Government Area of Kwara State.