Justice Muhammed Sani of the Federal High Court sitting in Ilorin on Tuesday, February 14, 2023, sentenced a businessman, Kingsley Ogala, to twelve months imprisonment without option of fine for purchasing minerals 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 Offences Act
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
Commission, tendered documents 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 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 count one and three which would run
concurrently. The court also ordered the final forfeiture of the 30 tonnes of
the illegally procured mineral to the Federal Government.
The judge fixed March 15, 2022 for commencement of trial of
the case involving the first defendant.
