Mompha “Internet Celebrity” Granted Bail

One of Nigeria’s Internet super celebrities, Ismaila Mustapha a.k.a Mompha has regained his freedom from Correctional facility a few weeks after his arraignment before a Special Offences Court, sitting in Ikeja, Lagos.

He regained his freedom shortly after the court presided over by Justice Mojisola Dada upheld the variation of his bail application to N25million with two sureties in the like sum from N200million bail bound earlier granted by the same court when he was arraigned.

Upon his arrest on 10th January 2022 by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ismaila, was arraigned on an 8-count charge bordering on the offences of conspiracy and money laundering to the tune of over a N6billion, along with his company, Ismalob Global Investment Limited.

Thereafter, the defendant was admitted to bail on January 18, 2022 in the sum of N200 million with two sureties in like sum, one of the sureties must own property valued at N100million within the jurisdiction of the court.

Ismaila, who has since been remanded in the Correctional centre of his choice for failure to perfect his bail conditions, on Monday, March 28, 2022 applied for variation of his bail conditions through his counsel, Gboyega  Oyewole, SAN who lead Ademola Adefolaju and Kolawole Salami

Justice Dada, in giving consideration to Ismaila’s application said that the court is weary in granting the application even as the defence counsel urged the prosecution to see towards the possibility of some kind of variation, and noted that such is being hampered because of his detention.

The judge, however, varied the bail conditions by granting temporary relief to the defendant N25million in like sum, presenting two sureties, one of the sureties must have landed properties valued at N50 million within the jurisdiction of the state and must be produced by his lawyer.

Consequently, the prosecution, Mr. Rotimi Oyedepo asked for a new date from the court and possible commencement of trial.

When the matter came up for trial, the prosecutor informed that the matter was for commencement of trial but requested for a stand down of the matter because the prosecution witness was being delayed by traffic.

The defence informed the court that the defendant has submitted his international passport to the court registrar and subsequently, presented a letter to that effect.

But the judge sought for the validity of the international passport and asked that a copy of it be printed from database, which was complied with by the defence.

The matter has been adjourned to April 6, 2022 for continuation of trial.