The Economic and
Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Lagos Zonal office, on Wednesday, March 4,
2020, re-arraigned Ismaila Mustapha, also known as Mompha, before Justice A.
Mohammed Liman of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, for alleged
N32.9billion fraud.
Mompha was first arraigned alongside his company, Ismalob
Ventures on November 25, 2019 on a 14-count charge bordering on fraud, money
laundering and running a foreign exchange business without the authorisation of
the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN.
The defendant had pleaded not guilty to the charge and was
granted bail in the sum of N100million with one surety in like sum.
The prosecution subsequently
opened its case and presented witnesses from the CBN and the Special Control
Unit Against Money Laundering, SCUML.
At the resumed sitting today, the prosecution counsel, Rotimi
Oyedepo, informed the court of a second amended charge against the defendant
and also urged the court to allow a fresh plea by the defendant.
The amended 22-count charge was, therefore, read to the
defendant, who pleaded not guilty.
in view of his plea, the
defence counsel, Gboyega Oyewole, SAN, urged the court to grant a short
adjournment to enable him study the new charge.
Oyewole further told the court that he had only seen the new
charge a few minutes before the court commenced sitting.
Oyewole, therefore, urged the court to allow him study same.
Justice Liman granted the prayers of the defence and
adjourned the matter to March 18, 2020 for continuation of trial.
