The Federal Government has arraigned eight Chinese nationals and a Nigerian over illegal mining activities in Lokpaukwu community, Umuchieze, Umunneochi Local Government Area of Abia State.
The suspects were recently apprehended by the Mining Marshals, an elite security outfit crafted from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) tasked with ridding the mining sector of illegal operators.
They were arraigned before Justice J.K Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on three-counts, which are mining without lawful authority and obstruction of lawful mining operations, among others.
The defendants are SHEN YONGCHAN, MO BAIXIAN, XIAO BIN, HUANG XU FA, MA BINGLI, YANG JIAN, LI PEIYIN, QUE WENYONG, HIYK EDWARD DESMOND, and WANDA COMPANY LIMITED.
Upon hearing the pleas and arguments from both sides, the defendants were remanded at Kuje Correctional Centre until the adjourned date for the continuation of the trial.
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