The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) plans to search courtroom approval to bring licensed operators into industrial facilities uncovered throughout a raid on alleged illegal petroleum refining and strong mineral processing actions in Ogere, Ogun State.
EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede disclosed this whereas talking with journalists on the location after the operation, in a clip posted on the Arise News X web page on Saturday.
He stated the fee intends to work with related regulatory businesses to determine certified professionals and bonafide companies that would function the facilities, relatively than destroy the infrastructure or permit employees to lose their jobs.
EFCC seeks licensed operators for Ogere facilities
Olukoyede stated the proposed association would solely proceed after the fee obtains the required courtroom orders. The EFCC has not introduced any appointed operators or confirmed that the facilities have been handed over to new companies.
He defined that the fee would contain related regulatory businesses in figuring out professionals and companies licensed to handle the economic facilities, with the purpose of preserving the belongings and redirecting their actions in the direction of reputable financial use.
The EFCC chairman stated:
- “We are going to apply to court for all the necessary orders. And we will bring in all the relevant regulatory agencies to go and bring professionals, those who are licensed to run this kind of businesses.”
- He stated the fee would comply with due authorized course of and wouldn’t destroy the facilities, describing the preservation of productive belongings as a part of its strategy to preventing monetary and financial crimes.
- “One of the high points of the fight against financial crimes and economic crime is to use it to stimulate the economy. So all these things will not be destroyed. We are going to preserve them.” Olukoyede added.
The proposed association, he famous, is meant to shield Nigerians employed on the facilities whereas making certain that any future operations are performed by certified and correctly licensed companies.
EFCC uncovers illegal industrial zone in Ogun
The proposed association follows the invention of what Olukoyede described as an extensive industrial operation in Ogere, comprising facilities allegedly involved in illegal petroleum refining, processing of high-value strong minerals, together with lithium, and wooden processing for export.
The EFCC chairman stated the situation contained a number of facilities outfitted with heavy equipment and impartial electrical energy technology to maintain their actions.
- The fee stated its investigation covers suspected cash laundering, financial sabotage and illegal mining, together with the actions of overseas nationals allegedly concerned in the operations.
- Some suspects have been arrested and are offering details about their alleged collaborators exterior Nigeria.
- Investigators additionally discovered warehouses containing lithium batteries, phone batteries and chargers, in addition to tons of of bikes suspected to have supported safety preparations at illegal mining areas.
- The EFCC has deployed personnel to present 24-hour safety and surveillance on the website whereas investigations proceed.
Olukoyede stated the operation, codenamed Operation Sovereign Wealth, was meant to get well sources allegedly exploited by means of the illegal actions. He additionally urged Nigerians to report comparable operations, warning that the nation bears the financial price when its sources are illegally exploited and the proceeds taken elsewhere.
Recent instances of iIllegal mining and refining
The Ogere operation comes amid different enforcement actions towards unauthorised mining and petroleum actions throughout the nation.
In May 2025, the Federal High Court in Jos ordered the deportation of 4 Chinese nationals — Liang Quin Yong, Wang Huajie, Zhong Jiajing and Long Kechong — following their conviction for illegal dealings in strong minerals. The courtroom additionally ordered the forfeiture of roughly N134.9 million linked to the illegal actions to the Federal Government.
In one other growth, the Federal High Court in Warri, Delta State, sentenced 10 persons to prison for illegal dealings in petroleum products, together with substandard Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), also referred to as diesel
