N18bn was paid into Mompha’s account, witness tells court

Peter Adegoke, a prosecution witness, who works as a compliance officer with Fidelity Bank Plc, on Friday told a federal high court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, of how N18bn was allegedly paid into the account of Ismalob Global Investments, a company belonging to Ismaila Mustapha, also known as Mompha.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arraigned Mompha on a 14-count charge of money laundering to the tune of N32.9bn on November 25.

At Friday’s sitting, Anne Ezekannagha, a manager in the customer service department of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), who was also a witness, told the court that Mompha’s company, Ismalob Ventures, was not registered with the CBN.

She also disclosed that he did not have the licence to operate as a bureau de change operator.

Led in evidence by the prosecution counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo, Ezekannagha further told the court: “We got a letter from the EFCC on the activities of Ismalob Global Ventures. However, we have no history of the name  the CBN.”

But when the charges were read to him, Mompha pleaded not guilty after which he was granted N100 million bail.

Mohammed Liman, the presiding judge, ordered that he be remanded in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Services (NCS) pending the fulfillment of his bail conditions.

As part of the bail conditions, Liman ordered the defendant to provide one surety that must have a landed property within the jurisdiction of the court and the title documents must be verified by relevant lands authority, while the surety is to be verified by the court’s deputy chief registrar (DCR).

In addition, Mompha was asked to submit his international travel passport and always visit the EFCC every 14 days, to keep him from traveling outside Nigeria pending the determination of the case.

Hamza Koudeih, a Lebanese and Kayode Phillip, both believed to be associates of Mompha were also arraigned and remanded in prison custody on Thursday.