How Fake Sureties Helped Chinese Illegal Mining Suspect Escape EFCC Custody

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned two Nigerian men, Shehu Abdu and Isah Saidu, for allegedly posing as false sureties for a Chinese national, Ji Zhou, who is wanted for illegal mining and economic sabotage.

The duo was brought before Justice A. Isiaka of the Kaduna State High Court on Monday, June 2, 2025. They were charged with giving false information to a public servant—an offence punishable under Section 105(a) of the Kaduna State Penal Code Law, 2017.

According to a statement released by the EFCC on Tuesday, Abdu and Saidu falsely claimed to be acquaintances of Zhou, assuring the Commission they would produce him whenever needed after he was granted administrative bail. They signed a ₦10 million bail bond in support of Zhou’s release.

However, when the Commission sought to re-engage the suspect, both men allegedly confessed that they had never met Zhou before and were paid ₦40,000 each by his lawyer to pose as sureties.

“We didn’t know him. His lawyer paid us ₦40,000 each to pose as sureties,” they reportedly told EFCC investigators.

The EFCC described the development as a clear act of deception that directly led to Zhou’s release—an outcome that would not have occurred if the true facts had been known. The Commission has since launched a manhunt for Zhou, who is now at large.

One of the charges filed against Abdu 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 accused persons pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Prosecuting counsel Y.J. Matiyak urged the court to remand the defendants and fix a date for trial. Justice Isiaka subsequently adjourned the case to June 16, 2025, for a ruling on their bail applications, and ordered that the defendants be remanded in the Kaduna Correctional Centre.

Speaking anonymously, an EFCC official described the case as “a stark warning” about how the bail system can be exploited. “This is how illegal miners escape justice—through lies and loopholes. We’re closing those gaps,” the official said.