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Tag: Ismaila Mustapha

  • EFCC re-arrests Mompha on alleged N6bn money laundering

    EFCC re-arrests Mompha on alleged N6bn money laundering

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Monday disclosed social media celebrity, Ismaila Mustapha (alias Mompha), charged with N6 billion money laundering had been re-arrested.

    The EFCC counsel, Mr Suleiman Suleiman, told an Ikeja Special Offences Court that the prosecution in collaboration with its international partners had secured the arrest of Mompha.

    “The prosecution will like to bring to the knowledge of my lord that in collaboration with our international partners, we have been able to apprehend the defendant.

    “We plan to take him into custody and to produce him before the court.

    “The counsel for the defendant reached out to me seeking for an adjournment that he will be absent today in court,” Suleiman said.

    Justice Mojisola Dada, thereafter, adjourned the case until July 3 for continuation of trial.

    The court had on Sept. 21, 2022 ordered the commencement of trial of the defendant in absentia after he failed to appear before the court.

    EFCC had on Jan. 22, 2022 arraigned Mompha alongside his company, Ismalob Global Investment, on an eight-count charge of N6 billion laundering, which he pleaded not guilty to.

    The court had on June 22, 2022 issued a bench warrant for Mompha’s arrest following his absence in court.

    Dada revoked the bail she granted the defendant.

    The social media celebrity was equally absent in court on June 16, 2022.

    On June 10, 2022 EFCC accused him of flouting the court’s order by travelling to Dubai with a new international passport.

    The charges against Mompha include conspiracy to launder money obtained through unlawful activities, and laundering of money obtained through unlawful activities.

    Others are: retention of proceeds of criminal conduct, use of property derived from an unlawful act, possession of a document containing false pretense, and failure to disclose assets.

  • Alleged N6bn money laundering: Absence of defence counsel stalls Mompha’s trial

    Alleged N6bn money laundering: Absence of defence counsel stalls Mompha’s trial

    The absence of the defence counsel to Ismaila Mustapha (alias Mompha), on Wednesday stalled the trial in the alleged six billion Naira money laundering against him.

    Newsmen reports that Justice Mojisola Dada of an Ikeja Special Offences Court adjourned the case until Dec. 16 for trial, following the absence of the defence counsel, Mr Gboyega Oyewole (SAN).

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) counsel, Mr Suleiman Suleiman had earlier informed the court that the prosecution was in court with two witnesses as the court had fixed the date for commencement of trial.

    Suleiman, however, informed the court of the absence of the lead defence counsel.

    “There is no representation for the defence and I tried reaching the junior counsel who said that the SAN ought to be here,” he said.

    NAN reports that court had on Sept. 21 ordered the begining of trial of the defendant in absentia after he failed to appear before the court.

    The EFCC had on Jan. 22 arraigned Mompha alongside his company, Ismalob Global Investment Ltd., on eight counts of six billion Naira laundering.

    The court had on June 22 issued a bench warrant for Mustapha’s arrest following his absence in court.

    Dada also revoked the bail she granted the defendant.

    The social media celebrity was equally absent in court on June 16.

    On June 10, EFCC accused him of flouting the court’s order by travelling to Dubai with a new international passport.

    The charge against Mustapha include conspiracy to launder money obtained through unlawful activities, and laundering of money obtained through unlawful activities.

    Others are retention of proceeds of criminal conduct, use of property derived from an unlawful act, possession of a document containing false pretences, and failure to disclose assets.

  • EFCC falsely declared me wanted – Mompha

    EFCC falsely declared me wanted – Mompha

    Social media celebrity, Ismaila Mustapha, popularly known as Mompha has said that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) falsely declared him wanted.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports that the EFCC declared Mompha, who is facing a N6 billion money laundering trial before Justice Mojisola Dada of the Ikeja Special Offences Court, wanted on Wednesday.

    In a post via his official Instagram page, Mompha narrated his own side of the story, accusing the anti-graft agency of blackmail and intimidation.

    In the post titled: ‘MOMPHA WANTED BY THE EFCC’ – THE TRUTH STORY, Mompha released a detailed history of his arrest and arraignment by the EFCC.

    The post reads: “After my arrest and arraignment on the first case at the federal high court Lagos, on the 10th of December 2021, the court gave me judgment and ordered EFCC to release my wrist watches and other valuables in their custody to me for been unlawfully seized.

    “Being a bitter agency, the EFCC in dissatisfaction with the judgment of the court on the release of my wristwatches came up with another trumped up charges against me.

    “On the 10th of January 2022 while I was at there office at Okotie Eboh to retrieve my wristwatches in compliance with the judgment of the court and immediately after collecting my wristwatches, they held me down at their office and charged me to court the following day on the frivolous charges.

    “I was arraigned before a familiar Judge to the EFCC and in effect I was given a very difficult bail to meet as a result of which I ended up spending over two months in prison custody while making efforts to meet the difficult bail. After several attempts to meet the bail conditions failed, I successfully applied for the bail conditions to be reduced which eventually led to my release.

    “Upon my release I traveled outside Nigeria to check on the welfare and wellbeing of my family and returned to Nigeria shortly only for the EFCC Corrupt lawyer, Rotimi Oyedepo rather than focus on the establishing his criminal case against me along with the EFCC operative Kaina Garba, chose to capitalize on the fact that I travelled to blackmail me into entering plea bargain with EFCC else he would inform the Judge I travelled and ensure my bail is revoked therefore making me have no choice than to dance to his tune.

    “I initially refused but after so much blackmail and intimidation by Rotimi Oyedepo, I succumbed and was told to pay N142 million naira to EFCC as compensation and also sign for a one year imprisonment sentence which I was uncomfortable with and they thereafter reduced it to N40 million naira and one year imprisonment.

    “When it became obvious to EFCC that I wasn’t going to sign the plea bargain and play to their game, they informed the Judge I travelled and the Judge without any concrete evidence and disregard

    “The fact that I was never absent in court, revoked my bail but fortunately the Judge again released me on a temporary basis and I was asked to appear in court a week after.

    “All these facts especially the blackmail and intimidation by the EFCC made me come to the conclusion that I cannot get justice within this corrupt laden system as the EFCC was hell bent on extorting money from me for a crime I never committed as well as the Judge who was ready to send me back to prison custody without any evidence or basis.

    “More importantly, to show the EFCC is a charade, the so called Nappy I was alleged to have engaged in fraudulent activities with was never declared wanted, the EFCC extorted money, cars and landed properties from Nappy but rather declared me wanted to generate cheap publicity. I was never involved in any illegal activity or crime, I only paid money to Nappy in the normal course of my BDC business which I never knew whether he was involved in any form of illegal activities or not.

    “Finally it was obvious entering the plea bargain with the EFCC, which they wanted to force me into at all cost, means I would be convicted for a crime I did not commit and therefore become an ex convict and this is what EFCC set out to achieve with me to enable them generate more social media publicity hence the desperation in falsely declaring me wanted and misleading the public.

    “I want the general public to know I am not wanted by the EFCC but rather the court issued bench warrant for my production in court on the next court sitting, I didnt steal from anyone or involve in any money laundering still dont know why efcc are so jobless that they want to tarnish my image? last last na international court go settle this matter @officialefcc”.

  • JUST IN: EFCC declares social media celebrity, Mompha wanted

    JUST IN: EFCC declares social media celebrity, Mompha wanted

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has declared Ismaila Mustapha, the social media celebrity better known as Mompha, a wanted person.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Mompha is facing trial for money laundering before an Ikeja Special Offences Court.

    The anti-graft agency charged Mustapha and his company, Ismalob Global Investment Ltd., on eight counts of N6 billion laundering.

    Justice Mojisola Dada had on June 22 issued a bench warrant for Mustapha’s arrest following his absence in court. On June 30, his absence in court stalled the money laundering trial and Justice Dada revoked his bail.

    The social media celebrity was equally absent in court on June 16.

    On June 10, EFCC accused Mompha of flouting the court’s order by travelling to Dubai with a new international passport.

    EFCC counsel, Mr Samuel Daji had told a sitting of the court that the commission was still in the process of re-arresting Mustapha.

    Dada adjourned the case until Sept. 21 for further report.

    The charges against Mustapha include conspiracy to launder money obtained through unlawful activities, and laundering of money obtained through unlawful activities.

    The other charges include retention of proceeds of criminal conduct, use of property derived from an unlawful act, possession of a document containing false pretences, and failure to disclose assets.

  • Alleged N6bn Fraud: Court revokes Mompha’s bail, orders immediate arrest

    A Special Offences Court, Ikeja in Lagos on Wednesday issued a bench warrant for the arrest of embattled Internet celebrity, Ismaila Mustapha, aka Mompha, after he failed to appear in court on two scheduled dates for his trial.

     

    Ismaila Mustapha is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on 8 counts bordering on alleged conspiracy and money laundering to the tune of over N6 billion, along with his company, Ismalob Global Investment Limited.

     

    Mompha was arrested on January 10, 2022, by EFCC, arraigned and granted bail.

     

    He was then taken into custody by the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) for being on the EFCC watchlist.

     

    He is alleged to have used his companies to receive illicit funds on behalf of internet fraudsters, popularly known as ‘Yahoo Yahoo boys’ from across the world in return for commission/percentage.

     

    However, the defendant has failed to appear in court on two scheduled dates for his trial.

     

    At the last adjourned date, the defendant’s matter could not proceed due to his absence.

     

    At the resumed proceedings on Wednesday, Justice Mojisola Dada stood down the matter for a while in expectation of the defendant’s arrival, yet he failed to appear in court again.

     

    The EFCC lead counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo asked the court for further stand down, but the request was turned down by the judge, who subsequently asked, ‘Where is the defendant?’

     

    Addressing the court, Oyedepo told the court that he was shocked by the development.

     

    At that point, Justice Dada, said, “The excuse that was given that he tested positive for COVID-19 was found to be false.”

     

    The prosecution counsel, Oyedepo thereafter, urged the judge to issue a warrant of arrest to ensure the defendant is produced in court.

     

    Subsequently, Justice Dada revoked the defendant’s bail and ordered his arrest.

     

    She adjourned further proceeding till June 30, 2022.

  • N6b fraud: EFCC accuses Mompha of flouting court order by travelling to Dubai

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has informed an Ikeja Special Offences Court that social media celebrity, Ismaila Mustapha, a.k.a. Mompha, flouted the court’s order and travelled to Dubai with a new international passport.

     

    The anti-graft agency explained that Mompha’s traveling documents had been submitted to the court.

     

    Justice Mojisola Dada had on March 28 ordered Mompha to submit his international passport to the chief registrar of the high court as one of his bail conditions varied from N200 million to N25 million.

    EFCC

     

    Mompha is facing an eight count charge of N6 billion money laundering charge alongside his company, Ismalob Global Investment Limited, brought against him by the EFCC.

     

    The charges bordered on retention of proceeds of criminal conduct, use of property derived from unlawful act, possession of document containing false pretences and failure to disclose assets.

     

    During resumed proceedings, EFCC counsel, Mr Rotimi Oyedepo, informed the court that Mompha hired an Emirate Airline and travelled to Abuja after he had submitted his international passport on the order of the court.

    EFCC

     

    He reminded the court that when the defendant was granted bail, he was also ordered to submit his International Passport to the registrar.

     

    He said: “The commission had it from a good authority that the defendant has a passport with No. D50084304, which was issued in Abuja on July 2021 and is to expire on June 30, 2031.

     

    “From the information by our partner, the defendant had on April 11 hired Emirate aircraft and flew from Ghana to Dubai. That passport is not the one submitted to this honourable court, my lord.

     

    “The defendant did not travel through Nigeria. The issue now is that the defendant has a new passport at hand which he traveled with after my lord restricted him from travelling.”

     

    Defence counsel, Gboyega Oyewole, SAN, however, objected to the submission of the prosecution.

     

    He argued that EFCC should write to the Nigeria Immigration to ascertain the claim.

     

    “I have spoken with the prosecution concerning this, my lord. When he called, I told him that there was a particular person who was our surety that was supposed to pay the N25 million.

     

    “His account was frozen when the money got into his account. The man called the defendant and for the defendant’s safety, he told the man that he had travelled. But the man has connection and concluded that the defendant has defied the court order.

     

    “My lord, the EFCC should write to Immigration to ascertain if my client really travelled out of the country or not.”

     

    Oyewole said further: “This is a superior court of record sir and I suggest that an application be brought concerning this because there is a lot of confusion here.

     

    “We should have it on record my lord. Let Immigration respond if another passport exists.”

     

    Oyewole reminded the court that the residency visa the defendant has to live by in Dubai is already submitted to the registrar.

     

    Oyedepo thereafter urged the court to stand down the case for ten minutes so as to discuss with the defence counsel.

     

    The defence counsel also urged court to grant him one week to verify the claim of the prosecution.

     

    On their return, the defence told the court: “We have had discussions within ourselves and also spoke with the prosecution.

  • Court adjourns Mompha’s trial till June 2

    Court adjourns Mompha’s trial till June 2

    Justice Mojisola Dada of the Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos, has adjourned till June 2, 2022, the trial of Ismaila Mustapha aka Mompha, and his company, Ismalob Global Investment Limited.

     

    Mompha was arraigned by the EFCC on January 12, 2022, on eight counts bordering on conspiracy to launder funds obtained through unlawful activity, retention of proceeds of criminal conduct, laundering of funds obtained through unlawful activity, failure to disclose assets and property, possession of documents containing false pretence and use of property derived from an unlawful act.

     

    One of the counts reads: “Ismaila Mustapha, Ahmadu Mohammed (at large) and Ismalob Global Investment Limited, sometime in 2016, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, conspired amongst yourselves to conduct financial transactions to the tune of N5,998,884,653.18 (Five Billion Nine Hundred and Ninety-eight Million Eight Hundred and Eighty-four Thousand Six Hundred and Fifty-three Naira Eighteen Kobo) with the intent of promoting the carrying on of specified unlawful activities to wit: Obtaining by false pretence.

     

    However, he pleaded not guilty to the charges.

     

    After hearing from both the prosecution and defence on the plea bargain, Justice Dada adjourned the trial till June 2, 2022.