Daud Olatunji
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has arrested 15 suspects, including 14 Chinese nationals and a Nigerian, over alleged illegal lithium processing operations at four plants in Ogere, Ogun State.
The arrests followed an operation by operatives of the EFCC’s Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 on Friday, October 23, 2026.
The commission disclosed this in a statement posted on its verified X handle, saying the operation was carried out following credible intelligence and surveillance.
According to the EFCC, its operatives raided the four facilities suspected of being involved in illegal lithium processing and arrested the suspects during the operation.
Items recovered from the facilities included bags of lithium rocks, 18 mobile devices, four laptop computers, two decoders, a television remote control and a trailer truck.
The commission said investigations were ongoing and that the suspects would be charged to court upon their conclusion.
The arrests come amid growing attention to lithium, a critical mineral used in the production of rechargeable batteries for electric vehicles, mobile phones and other electronic devices.
The mineral has attracted increasing interest because of its importance to energy storage and the global transition towards cleaner energy technologies.
However, the EFCC’s statement did not specify the quantity of lithium recovered, the identities of the suspects, the ownership of the facilities or the alleged financial proceeds linked to the operations.
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