Justice Mojisola Dada of the Special Offences Court in Ikeja, Lagos, adjourned the trial of Ismaila Mustapha, known as Mompha, to July 1, 2024. This decision came on Monday, May 20, 2024, as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) presented its fifth witness, Ezekoli Ozoemenam, a staff member of Fidelity Bank Plc.
Mompha, alongside his company Ismalob Global Investment Limited, was arraigned by the EFCC’s Lagos Zonal Command on January 12, 2022. He faces eight charges, including conspiracy to launder funds obtained through unlawful activities, retention of proceeds from criminal conduct, failure to disclose assets, and possession of documents containing false pretenses. One count specifically accuses Mompha and his associates of conspiring to conduct financial transactions amounting to N5,998,884,653.18 in 2016, intending to promote unlawful activities through false pretenses. Mompha pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Despite previously jumping bail, leading Justice Dada to order his trial in absentia on September 22, 2022, proceedings continued with Ozoemenam’s testimony. Ozoemenam, a compliance officer, confirmed receiving requests from the EFCC for Mompha’s account opening documents, which Fidelity Bank provided. He identified the relevant documents in court, which the prosecution moved to admit as evidence. Defense counsel Kolawole Salami reserved his objection to this application.
Under cross-examination, Ozoemenam disclosed that the account in question was opened in 2016, during his tenure in the bank’s internal control department. He noted that anomalies in bank accounts are reported to the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU).
The trial will continue on July 1, 2024.
