Mompha exiting the Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos, Monday
Money laundering: Court grants Mompha bail, adjourns till April 6
Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos, Monday, granted the bail application of Ismaila Mustapha, also known as Mompha, and his company, Ismalob Global Investment Limited.
Presiding judge, Justice Mojisola Dada heard the defence’s application seeking the variation of the bail terms and conditions earlier granted the defendant on January 18, 2022.
Mompha, the arrested internet celebrity and alleged fraudster, regained his freedom from the correctional facility.
He was released to his lawyer, Gboyega Oyewole SAN.
Mompha was arrested on January 10, 2022, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), and arraigned on January 12 alongside his company, Ismalob Global Investment Limited, an 8-count charge of alleged money laundering of over N6 billion.
The offence is contrary to relevant sections of the Advance Fee Fraud Act of 2006 and the EFCC Act of 2004.
He pleaded not guilty to all the counts.
On January 18, he was admitted to bail in the sum of N200 million with two sureties in like sum, One of the sureties, the judge ordered must own property valued at N100 million within the jurisdiction of the court.
The court also ordered the defendant to return his international passport to the custody of the court while ordering his remand in any Correctional Centre of his choice in Lagos pending the perfection of the bail conditions.
Mompha who has since been remanded in the correctional centre for failure to perfect his bail conditions.
The defence counsel has also informed the court that the defendant has submitted his international passport to the court registrar and subsequently, presented a letter to that effect.
However, the judge sought for the validity of the international passport and asked that a copy of it be printed from the database.
The court has adjourned to April 6, 2022 for a report on plea bargain agreement or a continuation of trial.
