Nigeria, June 1 -- Twenty-four defendants, including 15 Chinese nationals and nine Nigerians, have been arraigned before the Federal High Court in Abuja over alleged illegal lithium mining activities in Nasarawa State, in a case that underscores growing efforts by authorities to curb unauthorised mineral exploitation in one of Nigeria's leading solid minerals-producing states.

The defendants were arraigned before Justice Binta Ofili-Ajumogobia of Court 6, Federal High Court, Abuja, after their arrest on 16 May in Kokona Local Government Area of Nasarawa State.

According to court documents, the defendants allegedly carried out mining operations within a mineral title area covered by Exploration Licence No. 036528-EL belonging to TIMADIX ...