EFCC Busts Illegal Lithium Plants In Ogun, Arrests 14 Chinese

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested 14 Chinese nationals and one Nigerian over alleged illegal lithium processing activities at four facilities in Ogere, Ogun State.

The arrests were carried out on Friday, October 23, 2026, by operatives of the commission’s Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 following intelligence gathering and surveillance operations.

The EFCC announced the development on Monday, October 26, saying its operatives uncovered the four processing plants during the operation.

Items recovered from the suspects included bags of lithium-bearing rocks, 18 mobile devices, four laptop computers, two decoders, a television remote control and a trailer truck.

The commission’s Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, said the suspects would be charged in court after investigations had been concluded.

The EFCC did not disclose the identities of the suspects, the quantity of lithium recovered or the specific licensing and regulatory violations allegedly committed by the operators. Details about the ownership of the facilities and the duration of their operations were also not immediately available.

The arrests come amid growing scrutiny of activities in Nigeria’s solid minerals sector, where the government has been seeking to increase domestic processing, attract investment and curb unauthorised mining and mineral trading.

Lithium is an important industrial mineral used in rechargeable batteries for electric vehicles, mobile phones and energy storage systems. Its growing global demand has increased interest in deposits across several countries, including Nigeria.

Authorities have repeatedly raised concerns about illegal mineral extraction and processing, citing potential losses to government revenue and the challenges of regulating activities across mining locations and supply chains.

The latest operation adds to the EFCC’s enforcement actions targeting suspected unlawful dealings in solid minerals. However, the precise circumstances under which the four facilities allegedly operated without authorisation remain unclear.

The commission said investigations were continuing and that prosecution would follow their conclusion. The suspects have not been convicted, and the allegations against them remain subject to judicial determination.