Justice Mojisola Dada of the Lagos State Special Offences Court in Ikeja has dismissed the No-case Submission filed by social media celebrity, Ismaila Mustapha, also known as Mompha in his trial over alleged N6 billion money laundering case.
Justice Dada ordered Mompha to open his defence on the ground that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had established a prima facie case against him.
Mompha, who is being tried in absentia after jumping bail, is alleged to have retained and unlawfully transferred funds to a suspect named Olayinka Jimoh, also known as Nappy Boy, as well as to a record label, among other charges.
The anti-graft agency has identified over N6.5 billion that were allegedly laundered by the defendant. These amounts include N5,998,884,653.18, N32 million, N120 million, and N15,960,000.
Additionally, the Commission alleged that Mompha concealed his interest in expensive wristwatches and other movable assets valued at over N70 million.
He, has, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The EFCC had on November 16, 2022, informed the judge that the defendant jumped bail and that all efforts to re-arrest him had failed.
As a result, the judge ordered that Mompha’s trial would continue in absentia after revoking his bail.
EFCC prosecutor, Suleiman Suleiman, had called five witnesses before closing its case.
Following this, Mompha, through his lawyer, Kolawole Salami, filed a No-case Submission, arguing that the prosecution had not provided sufficient evidence linking his client to the alleged offence.
The case has been adjourned to January 27 and 28, 2026, for the commencement of the defence.
