Justice Mojisola Dada of the Lagos State Special Offences Court, Ikeja, has ruled that Ismaila Mustapha, popularly known as Mompha, and his company, Ismalob Global Investment Limited, have a case to answer in their ongoing trial.
The judge stated that a prima facie case has been established against the defendants, paving the way for them to open their defence.
Mompha and his company are facing an eight-count charge brought by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which includes conspiracy to launder funds obtained through unlawful activity, retention of proceeds of criminal conduct, laundering of unlawful funds, failure to disclose assets and property, possession of documents containing false pretences, and use of property derived from unlawful acts.
The defendants had pleaded not guilty to the charges during their arraignment on January 12, 2022.
During the trial, Prosecution Counsel Suleiman Suleiman called five witnesses before closing the case.
In response, Defence Counsel Kolawole Salami filed a no-case submission, arguing that the prosecution had failed to provide sufficient evidence linking Mompha or his company to the alleged offences.
READ ALSO: Witness Narrates How N35 Billion Was Found In Mompha’s Account
On Tuesday, the court dismissed the no-case submission, ruling that the application lacked merit and ordering the defendants to begin their defence.
According to the charge sheet, Mompha, Ahmadu Mohammed (currently at large), and Ismalob Global Investment Limited, sometime in 2016 in Lagos, conspired to conduct financial transactions totaling ₦5,998,884,653.18 (Five Billion Nine Hundred and Ninety-eight Million Eight Hundred and Eighty-four Thousand Six Hundred and Fifty-three Naira, Eighteen Kobo) with the intent of promoting unlawful activities, specifically obtaining money by false pretence.
Another count states, in part: “On about the 28th day of January 2019, in Lagos within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, with intent of promoting Olayinka Jimoh, also known as Nappy Boy, in the carrying on of unlawful activities, conducted financial transactions in the aggregate sum of ₦32 million, which in part involves proceeds of a specified unlawful activity to which obtaining money by false pretence.”
The trial continues, with the defendants now required to present their defence.
