The Ilorin Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), says it has secured an interim attachment order on nine trucks loaded with assorted solid minerals, alongside the final forfeiture of the contents of another truck, in a sustained crackdown on illegal mining activities in Kwara and Oyo States.
The order was granted by Abimbola Awogboro, a Justice of the Federal High Court sitting in Ilorin, following an ex parte application filed by the EFCC.
The trucks were intercepted during a sting operation conducted by operatives of the Commission on February 1, 2026, leading to the arrest of several suspects. Preliminary investigations revealed that the minerals were allegedly mined and transported without lawful authority.
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Consequently, the Commission approached the court seeking interim attachment of the vehicles pursuant to Sections 6(d), 7(2) and 34(1) of the EFCC (Establishment) Act, 2004, as well as Section 329 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act.
Moving the application, Cosmas Ugwu, EFCC counsel, urged the court to grant an order restraining any disposal, sale, lease, mortgage, or tampering with the trucks and their contents pending the conclusion of investigations.
The application was supported by a 10-paragraph affidavit deposed to by Ali Aji Muhammed, EFCC investigator who stated that the vehicles were recovered while conveying solid minerals allegedly sourced from unlicensed miners.
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In her ruling, Justice Awogboro granted the application and ordered the interim forfeiture of the nine trucks and the minerals contained therein. Some of the affected vehicles include a Dongfeng truck with registration number T23-938-LA, a DAF truck marked DKU 566 XA, a Shacman truck with registration number AAA 95 YN, and a Howo truck with registration number TRE 419 YJ.
In a related development, the court also ordered the final forfeiture of solid minerals contained in a truck with registration number LRN 122 XXX, after the property was declared unclaimed and subsequently came into the possession of the Commission.
