Court to decide Mompha’s no-case submission Dec 9

Ismaila Mustapha Mompha

A Federal High Court in Lagos has adjourned until December 9 the ruling on a no-case submission by an internet celebrity Ismaila Mustapha alias Mompha standing trial for alleged N32.9 billion fraud.

The date was changed as the court could not sit on Wednesday.

Mompha is being accused by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) fraud, money laundering and operation of a foreign exchange business without authorisation by the Central Bank of Nigeria.

He was arraigned alongside a firm Ismalob Global Investment Ltd on 14 counts.

He pleaded not guilty to the charge, and was granted bail in the sum of N100 million with one surety in the like sum.

The EFCC alleged that Mompha laundered the sum of N32.9 billion through Ismalob Global Investment Ltd. from 2015 to 2018.

Both defendants were alleged to have negotiated foreign exchange transactions in various sums such as  N9.4 million, N20 million, N10.4 million, N2.4 million, N100 million, N61 million, N40.7 million, N42 million.

Mustapha was also alleged to have aided Ismalob to retain an aggregate sum of N14 billion in its account, which was procured from Pitacalize Ltd.

The alleged offences contravene the provisions of Sections 15(2) and 18(3) of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act of 2011 as amended.