The scheduled trial of social media celebrity, Ismaila Mustapha, popularly called Mompha, before an Ikeja Special Offences Court, on alleged money laundering always stalled today, due to the absence of prosecution witness.
Mompha is being tried before Justice Mojisola Dada, alongside his company, Ismalob Global Investment Limited, on eight counts bordering on conspiracy and laundering of N6 billion, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
At today’s trial of the defendant (in absentia) the EFCC’s prosecutor, Mrs. Bilikisu Buhari-Bala, informed the court that the witness she intend to call is presently out of the court jurisdiction.
She told court that the witness, who is a staff of the Nigeria Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU), is under going a three-month workshop abroad, hence he was unable to be in court today.
Alternatively, the prosecutor asked the court if the witness can testify virtually, the request which was rejected by the court.
The prosecutor thereafter asked the court for an adjournment to enable her witness to testify in the matter virtually.
However, Mompha’s lawyers, the duo of Kolawole Salami and Ademola Adefolaju, vehemently opposed the prosecutor’s request for adjournment.
The defence team told the court to note that today’s delay in the trial was caused by the prosecution. Adding that since the prosecution knows that he will be applying for virtual proceedings, it ought to have applied to court since September when the matter came up.
The lawyers said: “the delay today was caused by the prosecution. We are ready for today’s proceedings.
“Since the last adjournment in September, the prosecution had the opportunity to bring the application for virtual hearing but failed to do so. Also, why do they not bring other witness.
“We are strongly opposing the application for the adjournment.”
Justice Dada, after taken submissions from counsel, agreed with the defence team, and also reject taking evidence from the witness virtually.
Justice Dada subsquently adjourned the matter till December 19, for continuation of trial, while ordered the EFCC to produce their witnesses on the adjourned date.
At the last hearing of the matter, the EFCC through its witness, Mr Ayotunde Solademi, from Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), tendered his agency’s two documents on the alleged charges.
The documents are a report by the FBI and an investigative report on Mompha’s iPhone which the agency claims was used for fraudulent activities.
The witness was led in evidence by EFCC counsel, Mr Suleiman Suleiman.
But the defence counsel, objected to the admissibility of the two documents in evidence, arguing that they were public documents and must first be certified by the U.S Consulate.
Justice Mojisola Dada, however, overruled him and upheld the submission of prosecution counsel, who insisted that the FBI documents were original.
The court, on September 21 ordered the commencement of trial of the defendant in absentia after he failed to appear before it.
The EFCC had, on January 22, arraigned Mustapha alongside his company, Ismalob Global Investment Limited on eight counts bordering on alleged laundering of N6 billion.
The court had, on June 22, issued a bench warrant for his arrest following his absence in court.
Dada also revoked the bail she granted the defendant.
The social media celebrity was equally absent in court on June 16.
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