A Federal High Court sitting in Ilorin has sentenced a businessman Kingsley Ogala, to 12 months imprisonment without the option of a fine for purchasing minerals without lawful authority.
Justice Muhammed Sani in his judgment 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 counts 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.
Sani subsequently fixed March 15 for the commencement of the trial of the case involving the first defendant (Isah), who pleaded not guilty, while Ogala pleaded guilty upon arraignment.
According to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ogala and one Isah Musa were prosecuted by the commission on a 3-count charge of possession of 30 tonnes of minerals without lawful authority.
Count one of the charges 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 offense to wit: without lawful authority, came into possession of 30 tonnes of mineral conveyed in Truck with REGISTRATION NUMBER KNT482XA and thereby committed an offense contrary to Section 3(6) of the Miscellaneous Offence Act 1983 and Punishable under Section 1(8) (b) of the same Act”.
Rashidat Alao, who prosecuted the case on behalf of the commission, had 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).
