EFCC arrests 14 Chinese, one Nigerian over illegal lithium plants in Ogun
- EFCC operatives arrested 14 Chinese nationals and one Nigerian at four illegal lithium processing plants in Ogere, Ogun State.
- The anti-graft agency said the arrests on Friday followed intelligence and surveillance by its Lagos Zonal Directorate 2.
- Items recovered included bags of lithium rocks, 18 phones, four laptops, two decoders and a trailer truck.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested 14 Chinese nationals and one Nigerian over four illegal lithium processing plants in the Ogere area of Ogun State.
The anti-graft agency said its Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 picked up the suspects on Friday, 23 October 2026, following intelligence and surveillance. EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale announced the arrests in a statement on Monday.
Items recovered during the operation, according to the commission, included bags of lithium rocks, 18 mobile devices, four computer laptops, two decoders, a television remote control and a trailer truck.
Why this matters
Lithium is one of the minerals at the centre of Nigeria's push to earn more from solid minerals as oil revenue weakens. Unlicensed processing plants mean the government loses royalties and taxes, and the sites can leave environmental damage behind.
Ogere, along the Lagos–Ibadan expressway corridor in Ogun State, has become a busy spot for mineral trading, and regulators have repeatedly warned about unregistered operators in the area.
The EFCC did not say how long the plants had been running or how much lithium was processed there. It also did not name the suspects.
The agency said the suspects will be charged to court once investigations are concluded. Under Nigerian law, an arrest is not a conviction, and the suspects are presumed innocent until a court rules otherwise.
What happens next
The EFCC is expected to finish its investigation and file charges. Nigerians in the area will be watching whether the case leads to tighter checks on who is allowed to process and export lithium, and whether the revenue from the mineral reaches government coffers.
