N6bn Fraud: Mompha Has Case To Answer, Court Declares

Justice Mojisola Dada of the Lagos State Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja has ruled that Nigerian social media personality, Ismaila Mustapha, popularly known as Mompha, has a case to answer in the ongoing N6bn money laundering trial.

Justice Dada, in a ruling on Tuesday, dismissed the defendants’ no-case submission, holding that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had successfully established a prima facie case requiring the defendants to enter their defence.

Mompha and his company, Ismalob Global Investment Limited, are facing an eight-count charge bordering on conspiracy to launder funds obtained through unlawful activities, retention of proceeds of crime, failure to disclose assets, and possession of documents containing false pretence.

According to a statement on the EFCC’s official X account, the judge stated that the evidence presented by the prosecution “requires explanation from the defendants,” and that the court was satisfied that a case had been made against them.

According to the charge sheet, Mompha, Ahmadu Mohammed and Ismalob Global Investment Limited, sometime in 2016 in Lagos, conspired to conduct financial transactions totaling N5,998,884,653.18, with the intent of promoting unlawful activities, specifically obtaining money by false pretence.

During the trial, EFCC counsel, Mr. Sulaiman Suleiman, called five witnesses before closing the prosecution’s case. In response, Mompha, through his lawyer, Mr. Kolawole Salami, filed a no-case submission, arguing that the EFCC had failed to link him to the alleged offences.

However, the court disagreed, ruling that there was sufficient evidence for the defendants to open their defence.

The matter has been adjourned to January 27 and 28, 2026, for continuation of the hearing.