Mompha is on trial at a Federal High Court in Lagos on an
alleged N33bn money laundering and cyber fraud charge.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has filed an
application to stop Ismaila Mustapha also known as Mompha from travelling
abroad to see his family.
Mompha is on trial at a Federal High Court in Lagos on an
alleged N33bn money laundering and cyber fraud charge.
He and his firm, Ismalob Global Investment Ltd, were on
March 4, 2020 re-arraigned before Justice Mohammed Liman on 22 counts.
They were first arraigned on a 14-count count charge last
November 25 following his arrest last October 19 at the Nnamdi Azikiwe
International Airport, Abuja.
According to the anti-graft agency, the defendant is based
in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates.
The commission alleged that Mompha was a major figure in an
organised transnational cyber fraud network, adding that he used Ismalob
Investment to launder the funds, part of which he used in acquiring properties
in Dubai.
At the resumed sitting on Thursday, Mompha's counsel,
Gboyega Oyewole (SAN), concluded his cross examination of an EFCC investigator,
Kaina Garba, before informing the judge of the application.
Garba and three Bureau De Change Operators had on Wednesday
testified against Mompha during examination-in-chief by EFCC counsel, Rotimi
Oyedepo.
Gboyega said, "My lord, we have filed an application
for the first defendant to be allowed to travel abroad so he can check on his
family."
But the EFCC said it had filed a counter application which
was still at the court's registry.
The agency's counsel prayed the court for another date by,
which time his application would be in the court's file.
Justice Liman granted the prayer and adjourned until April
15 to hear both applications.
In the charge, the EFCC alleged that Mompha procured Ismalob
Global Investiment Ltd to retain N33.006,026,806bn between 2015 and 2018.
He was also alleged to have failed to inform the anti-graft
agency in writing within seven days before making various huge amounts of money
to several people including Ikechukwu Kingsley; Ojei Osemeke; one Onuskain;
Okafor Ikenna; Ik Tony Global Communication; Ogbu C &C Ventures.
He was also said to have engaged in foreign exchange
transaction without complying with the requirement of the Federal Ministry of
Industry, Trades and Investment.
In another instance, Mompha was accused of procuring one
Ahmed Sarki (now deceased) to make cash payment of 765, 657, 00 Euros in a
commercial bank to a company, Pitacalize Ltd.
The offences, the anti-graft agency said, contravened
sections 18(c),15(2)(d), 10, 5, 29(1)(c), 18(c) of the Money Laundering
Prohibition Act, 2011 and punishable under sections 15(3), 16(1)(f) and
Sections 29(2), 16(2) of the same Act.
The offences were also said to have contravened Section
39(2)(a) of the EFCC Act, 2004.
0 Comments