By SCM Staff Writer I Tuesday, Nov.04, 2025
NIGERIAN social media sensation Ismaila Mustapha, known to his millions of followers as Mompha, has been dealt a massive blow in his multi-million pound money laundering case after a judge threw out his plea to have the charges dropped.
The self-styled Instagram King—famous for his flashy lifestyle and showing off his fleet of supercars and luxury watches online—must now take the stand to defend himself against claims he laundered nearly ₦6 BILLION (that’s over £10 million in UK money!).
Judge Says: ‘You Have A Case To Answer!’
Mompha and his company, Ismalob Global Investment Limited, were hauled into court back in 2022 on an eight-count charge by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The charges are explosive, centering on allegations of a conspiracy to launder cash gained from illegal activities and possessing documents used for “false pretences.”
One terrifying count alleges that Mompha and others conspired to conduct financial transactions worth a staggering ₦5,998,884,653.18 “with the intent of promoting the carrying on of specified unlawful activities to wit: obtaining by false pretence.”
Despite Mompha pleading NOT GUILTY to every count, his lawyers tried to pull a fast one with a “no-case submission,” arguing that the prosecution hadn’t provided a shred of evidence.
Defence Time Bomb
But Justice Mojisola Dada of the Lagos State Special Offences Court in Ikeja wasn’t having it.
In a dramatic ruling, she declared that a “prima facie case”—meaning a case that seems to have enough evidence to go to trial—had been successfully established against the defendants.
She promptly DISMISSED the no-case submission and ordered the playboy millionaire to open his defence.
It’s now all eyes on the court as Mompha faces the prospect of explaining where all that cash really came from.
The case has been adjourned until January 27 and 28, 2026, when the defence is set to begin.