The Ilorin Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has secured an interim forfeiture order for nine trucks loaded with assorted solid minerals and the final forfeiture of the contents of another truck as part of efforts to curb illegal mining in Kwara and Oyo states.

The order was granted on Tuesday by Justice Abimbola Awogboro of the Federal High Court sitting in Ilorin, following an ex parte application filed by the anti-graft agency.

The trucks were intercepted on February 1, 2026, during a sting operation by EFCC operatives, which led to the arrest of several suspects. According to the commission, preliminary investigations indicated that the minerals were mined and transported without lawful authority.

Counsel to the EFCC, Cosmas Ugwu, told the court that the application was brought under relevant provisions of the EFCC (Establishment) Act, 2004 and the Administration of Criminal Justice Act. He urged the court to restrain any disposal, sale, lease, mortgage or tampering with the trucks and their contents pending the conclusion of investigations.

The application was supported by a 10-paragraph affidavit sworn to by an EFCC investigator, Ali Aji Muhammed, who stated that the vehicles were recovered while conveying minerals allegedly sourced from unlicensed miners.

In her ruling, Justice Awogboro granted the interim forfeiture of the nine trucks and their contents. Some of the affected vehicles include a Dongfeng truck marked T23-938-LA, a DAF truck with registration number DKU 566 XA, a Shacman truck marked AAA 95 YN and a Howo truck with registration number TRE 419 YJ.

In a related decision, the court ordered the final forfeiture of solid minerals found in a separate truck with registration number LRN 122 XXX after the property was declared unclaimed and came into the commission’s custody.

The EFCC said the action forms part of its ongoing crackdown on illegal mining and related economic crimes in the region.