Ebun Francis|The Federal High Court in Lagos on Monday ordered that suspected Internet fraudster, Ismaila Mustapha, aka Mompha, be remanded in the prison custody.
The presiding judge, Mohammed Liman gave the order following the arraignment of Mompha by the EFCC on 14 counts charge bordering on fraud, money laundering and running a foreign exchange business without the authorisation of the Central Bank of Nigeria.
According to the anti-graft agency, Mompha procured one Ismalob Global Investment Limited and retained in its bank account an aggregate of N32.9bn between 2015 and 2018, money it said, the accused, “ought to have reasonably known that the money formed part of proceeds of unlawful act, to wit: fraud.”
Rotimi Oyedepo, prosecuting for the EFCC, argued Mompha acted contrary to sections 5 and 29(1)(c) of the Foreign Exchange Monitoring and Miscellaneous (Provision) Act Cap F34 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 and he was liable to be punished under Section 29(2) of the same Act.
Mompha, however, pleaded ‘not guilty,’ to the charges.
Following the plea, the prosecution counsel urged the court to remand the defendant in prison custody.
Responding, Gboyega Oyewole (SAN), counsel for the accused while not opposed to the application for trial date, however, said he had already filed a bail application for his client and had served same on the prosecution.
The trial judge adjourned till Friday, November 29, for continuation of the matter.
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