The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested 15 people, including 14 Chinese nationals and one Nigerian, over alleged illegal lithium processing activities at four plants in Ogere, Ogun State.
The EFCC’s Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 carried out the operation following what the commission described as credible intelligence and surveillance. The agency disclosed the arrests in a statement published on its official X account on Monday.
According to the commission, the suspects were arrested on Friday, October 23, 2026, during an operation targeting the four processing facilities.
Items recovered from the suspects included bags of lithium rocks, 18 mobile devices, four laptop computers, two decoders, a television remote control and a trailer truck.
The EFCC said the arrests formed part of its efforts to investigate suspected financial and economic crimes. However, the commission did not provide further details about the ownership of the facilities, the companies involved or the specific offences allegedly committed by the suspects.
“The suspects will be charged in court upon conclusion of investigations,” the agency stated.
The arrests bring attention to concerns surrounding the regulation of mineral extraction and processing in Nigeria, where authorities are responsible for ensuring that operators comply with applicable mining laws and licensing requirements.
Lithium is an important mineral used in rechargeable batteries and energy storage systems. Its growing importance in electric vehicles and renewable energy technologies has increased global interest in lithium-bearing deposits, including those found in Nigeria.
However, mineral exploration and processing must comply with relevant laws and regulatory requirements. The EFCC has yet to disclose the specific licensing or regulatory violations allegedly linked to the four facilities in Ogere.
In a separate case, the commission recently arraigned two young people, Marian Elia, 19, and Izuchukwu Uzoma, 21, over the alleged theft of N35.92 million belonging to a woman identified as Esther Ogbeifun in Benin, Edo State.
The defendants were reportedly arraigned on a seven-count charge bordering on alleged cybercrime, conspiracy and stealing.
The EFCC alleged that Elia, who grew up in the victim’s home, had access to her mobile phones and banking information, which she allegedly used to transfer the money into an account belonging to Uzoma, her boyfriend.
The allegations are separate from the lithium processing investigation in Ogun State.
Nigeria has also recorded major drug enforcement operations in Ogun State. In May, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency announced the discovery of a clandestine methamphetamine laboratory in a forested area, leading to the arrest of three Mexican chemists and several Nigerian suspects during coordinated operations in Ogun and Lagos states.
The NDLEA described the operation as the largest clandestine methamphetamine seizure in Nigeria’s history.
The latest EFCC arrests are expected to be followed by further investigations to establish the circumstances surrounding the alleged illegal lithium processing activities and determine the appropriate charges, if any, against the suspects.
