Admin I Wednesday, Nov. 01, 2023
IKEJA, Lagos, Nigeria – The trial of Ismaila Mustapha, better known as Mompha, a social media celebrity facing charges of N6billion money laundering, was delayed at the Ikeja Special Offences Court due to the unavailability of a prosecution witness.
During the proceedings on Wednesday, Mrs. Bilikisu Buhari, the counsel for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), informed the court that the next prosecution witness was currently out of the country.
Buhari requested that the witness be allowed to provide testimony via a virtual hearing. She stated, “My lord, we are sorry our witness could not make it to court today because he is out of the country for a training. We, however, apply that the witness’s evidence be taken virtually.”
In response, the defense counsel, Mr. Kolawole Salami, objected to the prosecution’s request. Salami argued that the prosecution had sufficient time to prepare and present their witnesses and that the request for a virtual hearing was made without prior notice. He said,
“My lord, the prosecution had enough time to prepare and bring their witnesses only to make an application for virtual hearing this morning without any notification. We ask that their oral application be dismissed.”
Justice Mojisola Dada overruled the prosecution’s submission and adjourned the case until December 19 for the continuation of the trial.
The EFCC had previously submitted some documents on September 18 through an agent of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Mr. Ayotunde Solademi, against Mompha. These documents included FBI reports and an investigative report on Mompha’s iPhone, which the agency claimed was used for fraudulent activities.
Mompha’s trial in absentia commenced on June 3 when a compliance officer with Access Bank testified against him. The prosecution had informed the court on May 15 that they had secured his extradition in collaboration with international partners.
On September 21, the court ordered the trial of the defendant in absentia after he failed to appear in court. The court had also issued a bench warrant for his arrest on June 22, revoking the bail previously granted to the defendant.
Mompha was notably absent from court on June 16, and on June 10, the EFCC accused him of violating the court’s order by traveling to Dubai using a new international passport.
The charges against Mompha include conspiracy to launder money obtained through unlawful activities, money laundering, retention of proceeds of criminal conduct, use of property derived from an unlawful act, possession of a document containing false pretenses, and failure to disclose assets.
