Mompha’s absence stalls hearing in N6 bn money laundering case

 

IKEJA, Nigeria – Justice Mojisola Dada of the Ikeja Special Offences Court, Lagos  today  adjourned the case of money laundering  slammed on social media celebrity, Ismaila Mustapha  better known as Mompha to  June 22, 2022, for further hearing over absence of the defendant in court.

The Economic and Finacial Crime Commission, EFCC had charged Mompha and his company, Ismalob Global Investment Ltd, with N6 billion fraud.

According to the charge sheet, the defendant and  his company  conspired to launder funds obtained through unlawful activity and retention of proceeds of criminal conduct, use of property derived from an unlawful act, possession of a document containing false pretence and failure to disclose assets and property.

The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charges. The court had on March 28, ordered Mompha to submit his international passport to court after his bail sum was reduced from N200 million to N25 million. The matter was adjourned until June 16, 2022, for further consideration on the bail application and ordered the defendant to be in the custody of the defence counsel.

During court sitting, the defending counsel Gboyega Oyewole (SAN), said that the defendant will be present when the case was to be called for a second time.

Oyewole said, “My lord I seek your indulgence to ask that the defendant will be present when the case was to be called for a second time.

Justice Dada called the counsel’s forward to have a private discussion for a few minutes and later adjourned the matter until June 22 for further hearing.