Mompha’s N6 billion money laundering trial rescheduled for July 23, following re-arrest
Justice Mojisola Dada of the Lagos State Special Offences Court has scheduled the trial of social media celebrity Ismailia Mustapha, popularly known as Mompha, for July 23.
Mompha is facing charges of alleged N6 billion money laundering.
The trial date was fixed after the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) informed the court that Mompha, who had previously jumped bail, had been re-arrested.
Mompha’s firm, Ismalob Global Investment Limited, is also a co-defendant in the case.
The charges against them include conspiracy to launder funds obtained through unlawful activities.
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The EFCC accused Mompha of retaining the funds and transferring them to a suspect named Olayinka Jimoh, alias Nappy Boy, as well as unlawfully transferring funds for a record label, among other allegations.
The total amount of laundered funds listed by the anti-graft agency includes N5,998,884,653.18, N32 million, N120 million, and N15,960,000, which adds up to over N6 billion.
Additionally, the commission alleged that Mompha concealed his interest in expensive wristwatches and other movable assets worth over N70 million.
During the proceedings, Mompha pleaded not guilty to the eight counts, while Ismalob Limited (represented by Mompha) pleaded not guilty to the first six counts.
In the latest hearing on Monday, the EFCC counsel, Sulaiman Sulaimam, informed the court that their international partners had successfully arrested Mompha.
However, he clarified that the defendant was not yet in their custody in Lagos.
Sulaiman requested a new trial date and assured the court that the defendant would be present by the next adjourned date.
However, the defense counsel, Gboyega Oyewole (SAN), was absent from court during the proceedings.
Considering the prosecution’s request, Justice Dada granted a new trial date, setting it for July 23.
Earlier, on November 16 and 22, 2022, the defendant’s trial was disrupted due to the absence of the defense counsel.
On September 22, 2022, Justice Dada ordered that Mompha’s trial would continue in absentia, as the EFCC’s attempts to arrest him after he jumped bail had failed.
On June 10, 2022, Justice Dada revoked the defendant’s bail but released him to his counsel, who requested one week to investigate the prosecution’s allegation that Mompha had obtained a new passport different from the one submitted to the court as a condition for his bail.
The prosecution had informed the court that the defendant used a new passport to travel from Ghana to Dubai, thereby violating the terms of his bail.
