In the ongoing trial of Ismaila Mustapha, also known as Mompha, the sixth prosecution witness, Idi Musa, detailed how N35bn was found in two bank accounts connected to the defendant. During Monday’s proceedings before Justice Mojisola Dada at the Special Offences Court in Ikeja, Lagos, Musa, an EFCC investigator, shared that the funds were uncovered during an investigation triggered by intelligence from the FBI.
Mompha, alongside his company, Ismalob Global Investment Limited, faces an eight-count charge including conspiracy to launder funds obtained through unlawful activities and possession of false documents. Pleading not guilty, Mompha’s trial proceeded in absentia after he jumped bail in September 2022. The charges involve transactions totaling nearly N6bn, allegedly intended to promote unlawful activities.
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Musa testified that the investigation began with a tip from the FBI in 2019, identifying Mompha and his company as involved in cybercrime. He described how account statements from two major banks revealed a heavy flow of N30bn in one account and N5bn in another, both linked to Mompha. Letters to various agencies, including the Central Bank of Nigeria, corroborated that Mompha was not a licensed Bureau De Change operator, contradicting his claims.
The EFCC also discovered that Mompha, not residing in Nigeria, attempted to flee upon learning of the investigation. He was arrested at the airport on October 18, 2019, after immigration officers intercepted his departure. Further findings included forensic evidence from the FBI, indicating that Mompha’s iPhone was used for transactions connected to cybercrime activities. Justice Dada admitted key evidence, including Mompha’s statement and Asset Declaration Form, and adjourned the trial to October 8, 2024.
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