Crime
Alleged N6bn Money Laundering: Lagos Court Frowns At Mompha’s Lawyer’s Delay Tactics
Alleged N6bn Money Laundering: Lagos Court Frowns At Mompha’s Lawyer’s Delay Tactics
Alleged N6bn Money Laundering: Lagos court frowns at Mompha’s lawyer’s delay tactics. Justice Mojisola Dada of the Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos, on Monday, February 23, 2023, frowned at the “delay tactics” being employed by Ismaila Mustapha, who is being prosecuted for an alleged N6bn money laundering, through his lawyer, Kolawole Salami.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Lagos Zonal Directorate 1, Ikoyi, Lagos arraigned Mustapha, also known as Mompha, and his company, Ismalob Global Investment Limited, on January 12, 2022, on an eight-count charge bordering on conspiracy to launder funds obtained through unlawful activities, retention of proceeds of criminal conduct, failure to disclose assets, and possession of documents containing false pretences.
One of the counts reads:
“Ismaila Mustapha, Ahmadu Mohammed (at large), and Ismalob Global Investment Limited, sometime in 2016, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, conspired amongst yourselves to conduct financial transactions to the tune of N5,998,884,653.18 (Five Billion Nine Hundred and Ninety-eight Million, Eight Hundred and Eighty-four Thousand, Six Hundred and Fifty-three Naira Eighteen Kobo), with the intent of promoting the carrying on of specified unlawful activities, to wit: obtaining by false pretence.”
Mompha pleaded “not guilty” to the charge, thereby leading to his full trial.
During the trial, the prosecution counsel, S. I. Suleiman called five witnesses and tendered several documents, which were all admitted in evidence against the defendants, before closing its case.
The defence, thereafter, filed a no-case submission, arguing that no evidence linked the defendants to the alleged offences.
In her ruling on November 4, 2025, Justice Dada held that the prosecution had established a prima facie case against the defendants, dismissed the no-case submission, and ordered them to open their defence.
At the resumed sitting on Monday, defence counsel, Salami, informed the court that the defendants had filed an application seeking leave of the court to appeal the court’s ruling delivered on November 4, 2025, which dismissed their no-case submission in the ongoing alleged money laundering trial.
Salami stated that the defendants, being dissatisfied with the High Court’s decision, are seeking leave to challenge the ruling of the Court.
According to him, the defendants believe that no prima facie case was established by the prosecution to warrant them entering a defence, expressing confidence that the appellate court would uphold their no-case submission and overturn the lower court’s decision.
He added that the defendants were committed to prosecuting the appeal diligently and urged the court to grant the reliefs sought in the interest of justice.
Responding, the prosecution counsel, Suleiman, told the court that the case was scheduled for the defence to open its case.
He also stated that he was unaware of the defence’s application and opposed it, urging the court to direct the defendants to proceed with their defence.
“The case has been ongoing since 2021, and adjourned since 2025 for defence to his case. They had ample time to prepare for defence, but coming to court with such an application today is not proper.”
Salami, in response, maintained that the application to appeal the ruling on the no-case submission had been filed and served on the prosecution since November 26, 2025.
Justice Dada directed the defence to proceed with his case, noting that filing an appeal is the constitutional rights of the defendants and that the application could be addressed after the day’s proceedings.
Court
“You are aware of today’s proceedings. You have the right to appeal; it is your constitutional right,” the judge said.
However, defence counsel informed the court that he was unable to produce his witness, explaining that the witness was unaware of the hearing date and was currently outside the court’s jurisdiction.
He, therefore, prayed the court for another adjournment, assuring that the witness would be present at the next sitting.
Justice Dada, consequently, warned that the court would not tolerate any delay tactics and described the adjournment as the “last indulgence.”
The matter was adjourned till April 28, 2026, for the continuation of trial.
Witness Narrates How Governor’s Aide Lured Her: S3xtortion
Witness narrates how Governor’s aide lured her: S3xtortion. The trial of a former Special Adviser to the Benue State Governor on Documentation, Research and Planning, Dr. Donatus Aondona Mkor, continue on Tuesday, February 24, 2026 before Justice M.O. Olajuwon of the Federal High Court sitting in Lafia, Nasarawa State, as the EFCC presented its second witness, Aluka Seembe, who told the court how the Governor’s aide lured her to get canal knowledge of her.
Just In
The case has been adjourned to March 19, 2026 for continuation of trail. Visit www.efcc.gov.ng for more details and other stories.
Court Jails Woman Seven Years For N5.6m Fraud In Kano
Court Jails woman seven years for N5.6m fraud in Kano. Justice Maryam Sabo of the Kano State High Court sitting in Kano has convicted and sentenced Ebonine Rita Uzoamaka to seven years imprisonment for obtaining the sum of N5,600,000.00k ( Five Million, Six Hundred Thousand Naira) by false pretence.
The convict was arraigned on August 18, 2021, on five- count charges of dishonest misappropriation of funds totaling N5,660,000.00 (Five Million, Six Hundred and Sixty Thousand Naira).
One of the charges reads: “That You Ebonine Rita Uzoamaka on the 18th January 2021 at Kano within the jurisdiction of this honorable court with intent to defraud, did obtain the sum of N2,000,000 (Two Million Naira) only from Ochayi Anthony Eneche which you caused to be paid into your bank account number 0093030293 domiciled with Access Bank Plc under the false pretense that you had 500 cartons of D-Rich Baking powder you would sell to him, which pretence you knew to false and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1(1)(a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act 2006 and punishable under section 1(3) of the same Act”
She initially pleaded “not guilty” to the charges when they were read to her, thereby setting the stage for a full trial.
In the course of the trial, prosecution counsel, Salihu Sani, presented a compelling case to establish the defendant’s guilt. He called a total of four witnesses and tendered several documented exhibits, which were admitted as evidence by the court. In her defence, the defendant stood as the sole witness.
Court Jails Woman
Delivering judgment on the matter, Justice Sabo convicted and sentenced the defendant to seven years imprisonment on all five counts of the charges . She, however, granted an option of Five Hundred Thousand Naira (N500, 000) fine.
Uzoamaka bagged her imprisonment when she was arrested for obtaining the sum of N5.6m from her victim under the false pretense of supplying D-Rice Baking Powder from Aba, Abia State.
Upon receiving the funds, she failed to fulfill the supply contract, instead converting the funds to her personal use. She was charged to court and convicted.
Kwara EFCC Arrests Eight, Six Trucks For Alleged Illegal Mining Activities
Kwara EFCC arrests eight, six trucks for alleged illegal mining activities. Operatives of the Ilorin Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, have arrested eight persons and six trucks for alleged involvement in illegal mining activities along the Ilorin – Ogbomoso axis of Kwara and Oyo states.
The suspects were arrested on Saturday, February 20, 2026, following credible intelligence and days of surveillance on unlawful mineral excavation and transportation across parts of the two states.
Their arrest brings to 18 the total number of persons apprehended by the Ilorin Zonal Directorate for suspected illegal mining within the last one month.
EFCC
The suspects were intercepted last weekend alongside six truck-loads of assorted minerals suspected to be lithium and kaolin.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspects allegedly operated without the requisite licences, permits, or regulatory approvals for mining activities.
The suspects will be arraigned in court upon conclusion of the ongoing investigations.
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