Ismaila Mustapha (Mompha), a social media celebrity, was on Wednesday, arraigned for alleged laundering of the sum of N5.9bn before Justice Mojisola Dada of a Lagos Special Offences Court in Ikeja, Lagos.
Moment his plea was taken, the defendant pleaded not guilty and the presiding Judge ordered his remand in the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) custody, pending hearing of his bail application.
Mompha was arraigned alongside his company, Ismalob Global Investment Limited.
Mompha was accused in the eight count-charge on the offences that border on aiding internet fraud and being in possession of fraudulent documents.
He was said to have committed conspiracy to launder funds obtained through unlawful activity contrary to Section 8 of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related Offences Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act 2006 the sum of N5, 998, 884.65 to wit the intent of promoting the carrying on of specified unlawful activity and obtaining by false pretence.
However, when the charges were read to him, he pleaded not guilty to all the allegations.
The prosecutor counsel, Mr. Rotimi Oyedepo, asked court for a trial date.
The defendant counsel, Gboyega Oyewole (SAN), leading Ademola Adefolaju and Kolawole Salami, informed the court that they have filed a bail application and same has been served on the prosecutor.
Responding to the bail application, Oyedepo asked for time to respond to the application.
After entertaining submission of counsels, Justice Dada adjourned till January 18, 2021 to hear and rule on the bail application.
Mompha had earlier been charged before Justice Liman of the Federal High Court sitting in Lagos vide charge No FHC/L/413C/19 by the EFCC and was subsequently admitted to bail.
