Social media celebrity Mompha remanded in EFCC custody
The trial of suspected internet fraudster Ismaila Mustapha alias Mompha started today while he was admitted to bail.
An Ikeja Special Offence Court on Tuesday ordered that a social media celebrity, Ismaila Mustapha alias Mompha, be remanded in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over allegations of conspiracy to launder N5.9billion.
The defendant was arraigned alongside his company, Ismalob Global Investment Ltd on a fresh eight-count charge of fraud.
The defendant is also facing trial at the Federal High Court Lagos on a 22-count fraud charge proffered against him by the EFCC.
He pleaded not guilty to the charge of conspiracy to launder funds obtained through unlawful activity, laundering of funds obtained through unlawful activity and retention of proceeds of criminal conduct.
Other counts are the use of property derived from an unlawful act, possession of documents containing false pretence and failure to disclose assets and properties.
Following the arraignment, the lead EFCC prosecutor, Mr Rotimi Oyedepo requested for a trial date.
The defence counsel, Mr Gboyega Oyewole, SAN, however, informed the court that he had filed a bail application which had been served on the prosecution.
Responding, Oyedepo asked for time to respond to the bail application of the defence.
According to the EFCC, Mompha committed the alleged offence between 2016 to 2019 in Lagos.
Mompha is alleged to have conspired alongside Ahmadu Mohammed, now at large, to conduct N5.9billion worth of financial transactions with the intent of committing the offence of obtaining by false pretence.
The prosecution alleges that the defendant also conducted other illegal transactions.
“On Jan. 28, 2019, the defendant and his company, with the intent of promoting one Olayinka Jimoh alias ‘Nappy Boy’ conducted unlawful financial transactions in the sum of N32million.
“The said sum involves the proceeds of a specified unlawful activity which is obtained by false pretence.
“On Feb. 11, 2019, he retained the aggregate sum of N20million on behalf of Jimoh which he was aware that the said sum were proceeds of Jimoh’s criminal conduct (obtaining by false pretence),” he said.
The EFCC alleges that Mompha on Feb.11, 2019, transferred the sum of N15.9million to Naptown Records and on Feb. 13, 2019, transferred the sum of N20million to Wisegate Sleek System.
The funds are alleged to be proceeds of crime (obtaining under false pretences).
On Feb. 3, 2020, the defendant allegedly had in his possession a document containing false pretence titled ‘Select Milk Producer J.P Morgan’ which was used to defraud Continental Dairy Facilities LLC.
The EFCC also alleged that on Oct. 20, 2019, Mompha failed to furnish information in relation to his interest in expensive watches such as a Rolex Wristwatch, a Hublot Wristwatch, two Piguet Wristwatches, an iPhone 8 worth N70million.
“This is required in page 10 of the Declaration of Assets Forms and is, therefore, an offence,” the prosecutor said.
The alleged offences violate Sections 5(1) 6, 7 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act 2006 and Sections 7, 18 and 27(3) of the EFCC Establishment Act 2004.
Justice Mojisola Dada adjourned the case until Jan. 18 for a hearing of the bail application.
