The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned two men, Shehu Abdu and Isah Saidu, for allegedly standing as fake sureties to Ji Zhou, a Chinese national wanted for illegal mining and economic sabotage.
On Monday, June 2, 2025, the suspects were arraigned before Justice A. Isiaka of the Kaduna State High Court on charges of providing false information to a public servant, which is punishable under Section 105(a) of the Kaduna State Penal Code Law of 2017.
According to a statement issued by the EFCC on Tuesday, Abdu and Saidu claimed to be close acquaintances of Zhou and vowed to produce him whenever the Commission requested it after granting him “administrative bail.” They signed a N10 million bail bond to that effect.
However, when Zhou was needed, the story changed.
“We didn’t know him. His lawyer paid us ₦40,000 each to pose as sureties,” the men allegedly told EFCC investigators.
The EFCC highlighted that their claims led directly to Zhou’s release, which the Commission stated would never have happened if the truth had been revealed.
Both men received practically identical charges which reads, “That you, SHEHU ABDU… gave false information to a public servant which made him release one Ji Zhou on administrative bail, an act he would not have done had the true state of facts been known…”
Both pleaded “not guilty.”
Prosecuting attorney Y.J. Matiyak, Esq., asked the court to set a trial date and remand the prisoners in custody pending trial.
The EFCC has launched a manhunt for Ji Zhou, who is now on the run.
Justice Isiaka adjourned the matter to June 16, 2025, to rule on their bail applications and remanded them in the Kaduna Correctional Centre.
An EFCC official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, called the case a warning to others, saying, “This is how illegal miners escape justice—through lies and loopholes. We’re closing those gaps.”
