EFCC Secures Court Order to Seize 9 Mineral-Laden Trucks, Wins Final Forfeiture in Illegal Mining Crackdown

EFCC Secures Court Order to Seize 9 Mineral-Laden Trucks, Wins Final Forfeiture in Illegal Mining Crackdown

AJAGBE ADEYEMI TESLIM

SPONSORED BY: H&H

The Ilorin Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has secured an interim attachment order on nine trucks loaded with assorted solid minerals, alongside the final forfeiture of another truck’s contents, in an intensified clampdown on illegal mining operations across Kwara and Oyo States.

The order was granted by Justice Abimbola Awogboro of the Federal High Court of Nigeria sitting in Ilorin, Kwara State, following an ex-parte application filed by the anti-graft agency.

Curious Television News reports that the trucks were intercepted during a sting operation conducted by EFCC operatives on February 1, 2026, leading to the arrest of several suspects. Investigations, according to the Commission, revealed that the minerals were allegedly mined and transported without lawful authorization.

Relying on relevant provisions of the EFCC Establishment Act, 2004, and the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, EFCC counsel Cosmas Ugwu urged the court to restrain any disposal, sale, lease, or tampering with the trucks and their contents pending the conclusion of investigations.

The application was backed by a ten-paragraph affidavit deposed to by EFCC investigator, Ali Aji Muhammed.

In her ruling, Justice Awogboro granted the interim forfeiture of the nine trucks and their mineral contents. The affected vehicles include a Dongfeng truck (T23-938-LA), DAF truck (DKU 566 XA), Shacman truck (AAA 95 YN), and a Howo truck (TRE 419 YJ), among others.

In a related development, the court also ordered the final forfeiture of solid minerals found in a truck marked LRN 122 XXX after the property was declared unclaimed and subsequently came into the Commission’s possession.