Court dismisses Mompha’s no-case Submission in alleged N6bn money laundering trial

The Lagos State Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja has dismissed the no-case submission filed by social media personality, Ismaila Mustapha, popularly known as Mompha, in his ongoing ₦6 billion money laundering case.

Justice Mojisola Dada, in a ruling delivered on Tuesday, November 4, 2025, held that the prosecution had established a prima facie case against the defendants, thereby ordering them to open their defence.

Mompha and his company, Ismalob Global Investment Limited, were arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on January 12, 2022, on an eight-count charge bordering on conspiracy to launder funds obtained through unlawful activities, retention of criminal proceeds, failure to disclose assets, and possession of false documents.

According to one of the charges, Mompha, alongside a co-defendant, Ahmadu Mohammed (now at large), allegedly conspired to conduct financial transactions amounting to ₦5,998,884,653.18 between 2016 and 2019 with the intent to promote unlawful activities involving obtaining money by false pretence.

The defendant pleaded not guilty to all charges. During trial, the prosecution counsel, S.I. Suleiman, presented five witnesses before closing the case. In response, the defence counsel, Kolawole Salami, filed a no-case submission, arguing that the EFCC failed to link Mompha to any criminal act.

Justice Dada, however, disagreed, ruling that sufficient evidence had been presented to warrant the defendants entering their defence.

The matter was subsequently adjourned to January 27 and 28, 2026, for the commencement of the defence.