Justice Mojisola Dada of the Lagos State Special Offences Court has ruled that Nigerian social media personality, Ismaila Mustapha, popularly known as Mompha, has a case to answer in the ongoing fraud and money laundering trial.
The ruling, delivered on Tuesday, November 4, dismissed the no-case submission filed by Mompha and his co-defendant, ordering them to open their defence.
“The court finds that a prima facie case has been established against the defendants. They are therefore ordered to open their defence,” Justice Dada stated.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is prosecuting Mompha alongside his company, Ismalob Global Investment Limited, on an eight-count charge bordering on money laundering and operating an unlicensed bureau de change.
The case, which began with allegations of laundering ₦32.9 billion, was later streamlined to involve about ₦6 billion. The EFCC alleges that Mompha conspired to launder funds obtained through unlawful activities, retained criminal proceeds, and failed to disclose assets.
In January 2022, the court granted him bail of ₦200 million with two sureties in like sum. However, his failure to appear in court in June 2022 led to the revocation of his bail and the issuance of a bench warrant for his arrest. He was declared wanted by the EFCC in August 2022.
Mompha was re-arrested in May 2023 through collaboration with international partners. By July 2024, court proceedings revealed that over ₦30 billion suspected to be proceeds of crime had passed through his account.
During the trial, the court admitted into evidence a report from the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), which alleged that Mompha’s iPhone was used to transmit account details and initiate international fund transfers.
Mompha has consistently denied the allegations, accusing the EFCC of targeting him for publicity and insisting the charges are baseless.
Justice Dada adjourned the case to January 27 and 28, 2026, for continuation of trial.
