In a landmark ruling, the Federal High Court in Jos has ordered the deportation of four Chinese nationals convicted of illegal mining of solid minerals in the state.

According to a statement released by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Thursday, Justice Dorcas V. Agishi handed down the judgment, which also includes a ban on the convicts from re-entering Nigeria.

The four Chinese nationals, identified as Liang Quin Yong, Wang Huajie, Zhong Jiajing, and Long Kechong, were found guilty of engaging in illegal mining activities in Plateau State.

In addition to their deportation, the court ordered the forfeiture of N134 million recovered from the convicts to the federal government of Nigeria.

The EFCC's statement confirmed that the commission had been investigating the Chinese nationals for their involvement in illegal mining, and the court's ruling marks a significant victory in the fight against economic crimes in Nigeria.