Justice Mojisola Dada of the Lagos State Special Offences Court in Ikeja has dismissed a no-case submission filed by Ismaila Mustapha, a social media influencer popularly known as Mompha, and his company, Ismalob Global Investment Limited, in their ongoing trial for alleged ₦6 billion money laundering.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had, on January 12, 2022, arraigned Mompha and his firm on an eight-count charge bordering on conspiracy to launder funds obtained through unlawful activities, retention of criminal proceeds, failure to disclose assets, and possession of documents containing false pretences.
According to the EFCC, the defendants conspired with one Ahmadu Mohammed, said to be at large, to launder approximately ₦5.99 billion.
Read Also: ICPC secures conviction of retired Agric Ministry official for age falsification, salary fraud
One of the counts alleged that the transactions were carried out “with the intent of promoting the carrying on of specified unlawful activities, to wit: obtaining by false pretence.”
Mompha pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
During the trial, EFCC counsel S. I. Suleiman called five witnesses to establish the prosecution’s case before closing it. Following this, defence counsel Kolawole Salami filed a no-case submission, arguing that the prosecution had failed to link his client to the alleged offences.
However, in her ruling on Tuesday, Justice Dada held that the EFCC had established a prima facie case against Mompha and his company, requiring them to enter a defence.
A statement by Dele Oyewale, Head of Media and Publicity at the EFCC, noted that the judge consequently dismissed the no-case submission and ordered the defendants to open their defence.
The matter has been adjourned to January 27 and 28, 2026, for commencement of the defence.
