Justice Mojisola Dada of the Lagos State Special Offences Court, Ikeja has said that Ismaila Mustapha, popularly known as Mompha, has a case to answer.
According to the judge, a prima facie case has been successfully established against the defendants.
The trial of Ismaila Mustapha, Mompha
Ismaila Mustapha, and his company, Ismalob Global Investment Limited are standing trial on an eight-count charge of conspiracy to launder funds obtained through unlawful activity, retention of proceeds of criminal conduct, laundering of funds obtained through unlawful activity, failure to disclose assets and property, possession of documents containing false pretence and use of property derived from an unlawful act.
The defendants had denied the charges in January 12, 2022, during arraignment by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
The Prosecution Counsel, Suleiman Suleiman called five witnesses before closing its case.
However, the Defence Counsel, Kolawole Salami, filed a no-case submission, arguing that the prosecution had failed to establish any evidence linking his client to the alleged offences.
The trial judge on Tuesday dismissed the defendant’s application for want of merit.
The court therefore dismissed the defendants’ no-case submission and ordered them to open their defence.
Ismaila Mustapha, Ahmadu Mohammed (at large) and Ismalob Global Investment Limited, sometime in 2016 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, conspired amongst yourselves to conduct financial transactions to the tune of N5,998,884,653.18 (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 the carrying on of specified unlawful activities to wit: obtaining by false pretence.
Another reads 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 transaction in the the aggregate sum of N32m, which some in part involves the proceeds of a specified unlawful activity to which obtaining money by false pretence.”
