The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has re-arrested Nigerian socialite, Ismaila Mustapha, popularly known as Mompha, charged with N6bn money laundering.
On January 22, 2022, Mompha and his firm, Ismalob Global Investment Limited, were both arraigned by the EFCC on eight charges bordering on alleged money laundering of over N6 billion.
The charges against Mompha include conspiracy to launder money obtained through unlawful activities and laundering of money obtained through illegal activities.
Others are 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.
On March 18, Mompha regained his freedom after Justice Mojisola Dada granted him bail in the sum of N25 million with two sureties in like sum, one of whom must own a property worth N50 million within the jurisdiction of the Court.
On June 10, the EFCC accused Mompha of disregarding the court’s order by travelling from Ghana to Dubai with a new international passport on April 11, 2022 via Emirates Airlines.
The commission informed the court that Mompha was in possession of another passport aside from the one submitted to the court, as part of his bail conditions.
The EFCC also declared Mompha wanted, saying that since on June 16, the socialite absconded from the trial and that it continued with efforts to secure his arrest and appearance in court.
On June 22, Justice Dada revoked the bail granted to Mompha and ordered his immediate arrest due to the controversial socialite’s absence in court.
Following Mompha’s continued absence and the inability of both the prosecution and defense to produce him in court, Justice Dada ruled on September 22, 2022, that the trial would proceed in absentia.
Mompha Re-Arrested By EFCC
During the court proceedings on Monday, May 15, 2023, the EFCC councel, S.I. Suleiman informed the court that Mompha had been re-arrested with the assistance of international partners.
“The prosecution will like to bring to the knowledge of my lord that in collaboration with our international partners, we have been able to apprehend the defendant. We plan to take him into custody and to produce him before the court.”
“The counsel for the defendant reached out to me seeking for an adjournment that he will be absent today in court,” Suleiman said.
The judge, Mojisola Dada, adjourned the case until 3 July to continue the trial.
KanyiDaily recalls that Mompha had accused the EFCC of blackmail and intimidation, stressing that he can’t be declared wanted by the agency because he neither stole money nor got involved in money laundering.
