Justice Mojisola Dada of the Lagos State Special Offences Court, Ikeja, has dismissed the no-case submission filed by social media personality Ismaila Mustapha, popularly known as Mompha, and his company, Ismalob Global Investment Limited, ruling that a prima facie case has been established against them.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is prosecuting Mompha and his firm for alleged money laundering and operating an unlicensed bureau de change.
In a post on its official X handle, the EFCC said the court found that there was sufficient evidence requiring the defendants to enter a defence.
The case has been adjourned to January 27 and 28, 2026, for continuation of trial.
Mompha’s long-running legal battle has seen several developments since the EFCC first accused him of laundering about ₦32.9 billion, later reducing the charges to an eight-count indictment involving roughly ₦6 billion.
The charges include conspiracy to launder funds, retention of criminal proceeds, and failure to disclose assets.
Mompha was granted bail of ₦200 million in January 2022 but later had it revoked after failing to appear in court, prompting the issuance of a bench warrant and his subsequent declaration as wanted in August 2022.
He was re-arrested in May 2023 with support from international partners. During court proceedings in 2024, it was revealed that more than ₦30 billion, suspected to be proceeds of crime, allegedly passed through his account.
The court also admitted into evidence a report from the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) alleging that Mompha’s mobile device was used for international financial transactions linked to illicit activities.
Mompha has denied all allegations, accusing the EFCC of using his case for publicity and maintaining that the charges are baseless.
The case remains one of Nigeria’s most high-profile financial crime prosecutions, drawing widespread attention due to Mompha’s celebrity status and extravagant lifestyle.
