The Lagos State Special Offences Court’s Justice Mojisola Dada had on Wednesday, 21 September 2022, ordered the continuation of the trial of well-known social media celebrity, Ismaila Mustapha otherwise known as Mompha, for alleged 6-billion-naira fraud in his absence.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission -EFCC, had declared the defendant, Mompha, wanted after he jumped bail.
The commission had arraigned Mustapha and his company, Ismalob Global Investment Limited, over an eight-count charge of money laundering.
The company’s other charges included: retention of proceeds of criminal conduct, use of property gotten from an illegal act, possession of a document containing false pretenses, and failure to reveal assets/possessions.
The absence of the defendant, Mr. Ismaila had stalled his trial on June 30.
He had also, been absent from court on June 16.
Justice Dada had then on 22nd June 2022, issued a bench warrant for Mustapha’s arrest following his continued absence from court.
The judge adjourned the case till 16th November 2022 after ruling that Mustapha’s trial would continue in absentia following the inability of EFCC to apprehend him after skipping bail.