Twenty-four individuals 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, comprising 15 Chinese nationals, nine Nigerians, and a mining firm, were arraigned by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) following their arrest on May 16, 2026, in Kokona Local Government Area.
According to court filings, the accused allegedly carried out mining operations without authorization within an area covered by an exploration licence belonging to TIMADIX Geomin Consult Ltd. Prosecutors said the activities violated provisions of Nigeria’s Miscellaneous Offences Act.
During the court proceedings before Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia, defence counsel Prof. M.T. Adekilekun (SAN) requested bail for the defendants, assuring the court that they would be available for trial whenever required.
The court granted the application and ordered the release of the defendants into the custody of their lawyer pending the hearing of the case.
As part of the bail conditions, the accused were directed to surrender their international passports and national identity documents to the court registrar. No financial bond or sureties were imposed.
Lead prosecutor Ojo Alex stated that the decision to grant bail was entirely within the court’s discretion and expressed confidence that the defendants would comply with the conditions and appear for future proceedings.
The case has been adjourned until June 18, 2026, for the commencement of trial.
Speaking after the arraignment, Mining Marshals Commander Attah Onoja reaffirmed the agency’s determination to tackle illegal mining operations across the country, stressing that protecting Nigeria’s mineral resources remains a national priority.
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