THE Ikeja Special Offences Court, Lagos, has adjourned the trial of one Ismaila Mustapha, popularly known as Mompha, due to the absence of the defendant.
Mompha is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and hearing in the trial was scheduled for June 16, 2022, before Justice Mojisola Dada.
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According to a statement released by the EFCC on Monday, June 20, Mompha, alongside his company, Ismalob Global Investment Limited, is being prosecuted on an eight-count charge.
The charges filed against Mompha include 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 unlawful act.
Mompha had pleaded not guilty to the charges during his arraignment.
According to the statement, at the last sitting on June 10, 2022, the prosecuting counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo, informed the court that investigation revealed that Mompha violated his bail terms, as he was in possession of another passport aside the one he deposited to the court.
Mompha was said used the other passport to travel from Ghana to Dubai.
“The defence counsel, Gboyega Oyewole, SAN, had pleaded with the court to give him one week to investigate the allegation, arguing that it was only the Nigerian Immigration Service that could confirm the claim of another existing passport.
“When the case was called, the defendant was absent in court, prompting the defence counsel to plead with the court for a stand down,” the statement said.
As a result of Mompha’s absence, Justice Dada adjourned the trial till June 22, 2022.
Usman Mustapha is a solution journalist with International Centre for Investigative Reporting. You can easily reach him via: [email protected]. He tweets @UsmanMustapha_M