The Federal High Court in Lagos on Wednesday resumed the N32.9 billion fraud trial of social media celebrity, Ismaila Mustapha, popularly known as Mompha.
Mompha was arrested on October 19, 2019, at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja. He was arraigned on November 25 on 14 counts bordering on fraud, money laundering and running a foreign exchange business without the authorisation of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
He was arraigned alongside his company, Ismalob Global Investment Limited.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) alleges that Mompha procured the company and retained in its bank account an aggregate of N33 billion between 2015 and 2018.
Justice Mohammed Liman granted him bail of N100 million on November 29, 2019. After meeting his bail conditions, Mompha was released in December.
During resumption of trial on Wednesday, EFCC prosecutor, Rotimi Oyedepo, continued examination of the fourth prosecution witness, Matthew Enu-Obun.
Mr Enu-Obun, a staff of the Special Control Unit Against Money Laundering (SCUML), told the court that looking at the transaction of December 14, 2015, to January 25, 2018, there was no report made.
He said that from available records the said transactions were never reported to SCUML by the company, Ismalo Global Investment Ltd., the second defendant.
When Oyedepo asked the witness who signed Exhibit C (a reply to the investigation activities on the defendant), he answered: “I signed it.”
Under cross-examination by defence counsel, Gboyega Oyewole, the witness told the court that he had been with SCUML since 2006.
He said that he worked in the compliance department and had steadily got promoted up to the position of a principal compliance officer.
Oyewole then asked the witness: “So, you have never been in the operations department?”
The witness replied: “No.”
Justice Liman adjourned the trial until February 26.
