The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has arrested 15 suspects, including 14 Chinese nationals and a Nigerian, over alleged illegal lithium processing activities at four facilities in Ogun State.
The suspects were apprehended by operatives of the commission’s Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 in the Ogere area of the state on Friday, October 23, following intelligence reports and surveillance.
The EFCC disclosed this in a statement posted on its official X account on Monday, adding that several items suspected to be connected to the operations were recovered during the raid.
Items recovered included bags of lithium rocks, 18 mobile devices, four laptops, two decoders, a television remote control and a trailer truck.
The commission said investigations into the activities of the suspects were ongoing, adding that they would be charged in court upon the conclusion of the probe.
“The suspects will be charged in court upon conclusion of investigations,” the agency stated.
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The arrests come amid growing attention to illegal mining and mineral processing activities, which can undermine regulatory oversight and deprive the government of legitimate revenue.
In a related development, the EFCC recently arraigned two lovers, Marian Elia, 19, and Izuchukwu Uzoma, 21, over the alleged theft of N35.92m belonging to a woman, Esther Ogbeifun, in Benin, Edo State.
According to the commission, the defendants were brought before the court on a seven-count charge bordering on alleged cybercrime, conspiracy and stealing.
The EFCC alleged that Elia, who grew up in the victim’s home, exploited her access to the woman’s phones and banking details to transfer the money into an account belonging to Uzoma, her boyfriend.
The allegations in both cases remain subject to judicial determination.