Court discharges Mompha, strikes out N6bn money laundering charges
An Ikeja Special Offences Court has discharged social media personality Ismaila Mustapha, widely known as Mompha, and dismissed all eight counts of money laundering involving approximately N6 billion against him.
In a ruling delivered Tuesday, Justice Mojisola Dada stated that the continued prosecution of the case constituted an abuse of court process, highlighting that a related matter was already pending before the Federal High Court in Lagos. The judge characterized the actions of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in pursuing cases in separate courts as forum shopping, which led to the dismissal of all charges against Mompha.
Mompha, along with his company, Ismalob Global Investment Limited, was arraigned by the EFCC on January 12, 2022, on various allegations related to money laundering and other financial crimes. The charges included conspiracy to launder funds suspected to have stemmed from illegal activities, retention and laundering of criminal proceeds, failure to declare assets, possession of documents containing false pretenses, and the use of properties derived from unlawful actions.
Mompha pleaded not guilty to these charges. The EFCC accused him of conspiring with Ahmadu Mohammed, who remains at large, and Ismalob Global Investment Limited, in 2016 to conduct financial transactions valued at N6 billion aimed at facilitating unlawful activities, including obtaining money through false pretenses.
During the trial, the prosecution, led by Suleiman Suleiman, presented six witnesses and several documentary exhibits to support its allegations. However, the defense chose not to call any witnesses in response.
Mompha had been granted bail on the condition that he surrender his international passport but subsequently ceased attending court sessions. On April 28, the court concluded the defense’s case after Kolawole Salami, representing Mompha, failed to produce witnesses.
The court’s decision on Tuesday concludes the proceedings against Mompha in the Ikeja Special Offences Court, based on the existence of a similar case before the Federal High Court in Lagos.
