EFCC busts fake sureties in Chinese mining scandal

DDM News

Two Nigerian men have been dragged before a Kaduna High Court over their failure to produce a Chinese suspect they stood surety for.

The Kaduna Zonal Office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arraigned Shehu Abdu and Isah Saidu on Monday, June 2, 2025.

Diaspora Digital Media (DDM) gathered that the two defendants are being prosecuted for allegedly impersonating friends of Ji Zhou, a Chinese national.

Zhou was arrested by the EFCC in 2023 on charges related to the illegal mining of solid minerals and economic sabotage in Kaduna.

According to EFCC’s statement, Abdu and Saidu misled officials by claiming to personally know Zhou in order to stand as his sureties.

They accepted the responsibility of presenting Zhou whenever needed and signed a bail bond of N10 million each.

The suspect was granted administrative bail based on their assurances and released from EFCC custody.

However, when Zhou was later needed by the Commission, both men failed to produce him as promised.

They eventually confessed that they did not know Zhou and had been paid N40,000 by his lawyer to pose as sureties.

The EFCC stated that such acts undermine the integrity of the justice system and hinder effective prosecution of economic crimes.

The charge against Shehu Abdu states that on May 8, 2023, he gave false information to EFCC officials in Kaduna.

The information led to the release of Ji Zhou, which the officials would not have approved if the truth had been known.

Abdu’s action, according to prosecutors, contravenes Section 105(a) of the Kaduna State Penal Code Law, 2017.

The same charge was brought against Isah Saidu, who allegedly committed the same offence on May 10, 2023.

Both men pleaded not guilty to the charges during their court appearance before Justice A. Isiaka.

The prosecution counsel, Y.J. Matiyak, asked the court to fix a date for trial and requested the defendants be remanded.

The court ordered the remand of the defendants at the Kaduna Correctional Centre pending further hearings.

Justice Isiaka adjourned the matter to June 16, 2025, to rule on their bail applications.

The EFCC reiterated its commitment to prosecuting individuals who provide false information or aid economic offenders.

This case reflects the ongoing challenges authorities face in enforcing laws against illegal mining in Nigeria.

Illegal mining has remained a persistent issue, especially in resource-rich states like Kaduna, Zamfara, and Niger.

Chinese nationals have been frequently linked to unregulated mining activities, raising concerns about foreign exploitation of local resources.

Security agencies have previously arrested several foreigners in connection with gold smuggling, unauthorized excavation, and mineral theft.

In many cases, suspects have attempted to evade justice by using paid agents to secure bail under false pretenses.

The EFCC has warned lawyers and intermediaries against facilitating such deceptive practices, stating that the law will take its course.

Analysts argue that Nigeria’s weak enforcement and corruption-prone bail systems often allow economic saboteurs to escape prosecution.

Meanwhile, calls are growing for the federal government to review administrative bail procedures and introduce stricter vetting of sureties.

Stakeholders believe that if not urgently addressed, the loopholes will continue to frustrate efforts to combat illegal mining.

The involvement of legal professionals in recruiting fake sureties has also raised ethical questions within the legal community.

As the case progresses, public interest remains high, especially due to the increasing environmental damage caused by illegal mining.

The EFCC’s action is being viewed as part of a broader strategy to dismantle the support networks protecting illicit mineral operators.

The Commission has encouraged citizens to report cases of impersonation, fake sureties, or corrupt bail arrangements to its hotlines.

Diaspora Digital Media (DDM) will continue to monitor developments in this trial and other related investigations.

Observers expect the outcome of the June 16 bail ruling to set a precedent for future cases involving false sureties.

The Nigerian government is under pressure to adopt a tougher stance against those sabotaging the country’s economic and natural resources.

The case also highlights the urgent need for inter-agency collaboration in tackling the complexities of economic crimes.

Kaduna State authorities have pledged their support to federal agencies in curbing activities that endanger the region’s stability and economy.

The arraignment of Abdu and Saidu may serve as a deterrent to others who may consider misrepresenting themselves in judicial proceedings.

In a country grappling with insecurity, unemployment, and economic uncertainty, protecting mineral wealth has become a national priority.

The EFCC has assured the public that it will leave no stone unturned in bringing offenders and their collaborators to justice.

As of the time of this report, Ji Zhou’s whereabouts remain unknown, and efforts to locate him are ongoing.

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