Kwara Court Jails Illegal Miner for Five Years

The Ilorin Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has secured the conviction of a 52-year-old man, Ilori Elicanah, for illegal mining and unlawful possession of solid minerals.

Elicanah was convicted on Wednesday, January 21, 2026, by a Kwara State High Court presided over by Justice Abimbola Awogboro, who sentenced him to five years’ imprisonment.

The court found him guilty of mining and possessing solid minerals without lawful authority, contrary to the Miscellaneous Offences Act, Cap M17, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 1983.

The EFCC had arraigned the defendant in October 2024 on a one-count charge bordering on illegal possession of solid minerals. The charge stated that Elicanah, sometime in September 2022, unlawfully mined and conveyed tons of minerals in a truck within the court’s jurisdiction.

During the trial, the prosecution called two witnesses and tendered five exhibits to prove its case. The defence presented four witnesses, including the defendant, before closing its case on July 11, 2025.

In his final address, EFCC counsel, Sesan Ola, urged the court to convict the defendant, noting that both Elicanah and his witnesses admitted under cross-examination that he had no mining licence. He added that operating under a purported verbal instruction from a licensed company did not confer lawful authority.

Justice Awogboro held that the prosecution proved its case beyond reasonable doubt and dismissed the defence’s argument on alleged failure to call certain witnesses. She ruled that the evidence presented was credible and reliable.

The judge further held that there was no record of any licence or payment of royalties to the Federal Government as required by law, thereby establishing the offence.

Elicanah was consequently convicted and sentenced to five years’ imprisonment.