Momphe’s N33bn Internet Fraud Suit for Hearing November 29

A Federal High Court, sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos today, fixed Friday, November 29, to commence trial of an Internet Celebrity, Ismail Mustapha, better known as Momphe, for alleged laundering of over N33 billion.

The court presided over by Justice Muhammed Liman, fixed the date after Momphe entered a no guilty plea to14 counts charge of money laundering, unauthorized BDC trading and failure to comply with the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment directive in carrying business transactions.

Rotimi Oyedepo and A. S. Sulaiman, for prosecution told the court that the Momphe procured their company, Ismalob Global Investment Limited, to retain aggregate some of N18, 059,353,413 billion between 2015 and 2019.

He was also alleged to have aided his company to retain the sum of N14, 946, 773, 393 billon between 2015 and 2017. Momphe was also accused of not complying with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and Federal Ministry of Trades and Investment directives in carrying out financial transactions.

Momphe was alleged to have unlawfully negotiated a Foreign Exchange transaction with total sum of N630, 125, 900 million, for some individuals. Those listed in the charge as defendantw are; Mr. Ikechukwu Kingsley Onuzulike;  Mr. Ojei Osemike, Mr. Okafor lkenna and  M Tony Global Communications.

The offences according to the EFCC contravened sections 18(c) and 15(2)(d) of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act,2011 as amended and punishable under section 15 (3) of the same Act. 

Following his no guilty plea, the prosecutors, urged the court to remand Momphe in prison custody while also asked the court for a date for trial.

Responding, the defendant lawyers, Mr. Gboyega Oyewole (SAN), Adebayo Ajidagba, Ademola Adefolaju and Kolawole Salami, told the court that they did not opposed the prosecution’s request for trial date, but said the defendant’s bail application has been filed and same has been served on the prosecution.

The prosecutors admitted been served with the application but asked the court for a short date to respond. Following the submissions of the parties, Justice Liman fixed Friday, 29, for hearing of the bail application and commencement of trial.

One of the counts reads: “that you lsmaila Mustapha and Ismalob Global Investments Limited, on or about the 17th day of December, 2015, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, not being an authorized seller appointed by the Central Bank of Nigeria pursuant to Section 5(1) of Foreign Exchange Monitoring and Miscellaneous (Provisions) Act CAP F34 LFN 2004 negotiated a foreign exchange transaction in the sum of N9,416,700.00 aw (Nine Million Four Hundred and Sixteen Thousand Seven Hundred Naira) with Mr. Ikechukwu Kingsley Onuzulike and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Sections 5 and 29(1)(c) of the Foreign Exchange Monitoring and Miscellaneous (Provisions) Act Cap F34 LFN 2004 and punishable under Section 29(2) of the same Act”.

Another count reads; “that you, lsmaila Mustapha and Ismalob Global investments Limited within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, sometimes being a Designated Non-Financial institution (“DNFI”) failed to comply with the requirements of submitting to the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment a declaration of your activities as specified under section 5(1)1a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended) and you thereby committed an offence punishable under section 16(1) (b) of the same Act”.