*Wants him to face his pending N32bn money laundering charge
*How Hushpuppi stubbornness landed him in trouble – Mompha
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has debunked the claims by Ismaila Mustapha (alias Mompha), currently circulating in the social media that he was advised by the Commission to maintain a low profile in the wake of the indictment of his friend, Abbas Ramon (alias Hushpuppi) in a $1.1m international fraud conspiracy by the United States Law enforcement.
The EFCC added that the spurious claim, which did not mention the official of the Commission who supposedly gave the advice, is spurious and should be discountenanced by the general public.
Speaking through a statement made available to journalists on Monday by its Head, Media & Publicity, Mr Wilson Uwujaren, the EFCC insisted that it will never advise suspected internet fraudsters, saying that it is far-fetched that the commission would counsel suspects that are being prosecuted with pending criminal charge in court.
The commission further asked Mompha to face his alleged involvement in N32billion money laundering charge, saying that it is better for him to face his matter before the court and stop playing to the gallery.
The Commission is also asking the general public to take a judicial notice of the fact that it has called 10 witnesses in Mompha’s case and closed its case against the social media celebrity.
The EFCC further disclosed that rather than enter his defense, Mompha filed a no-case submission which was dismissed by the court while the court directed him to open his defence.
The statement reads in part, “Mompha and his company, Ismalob Global Investment Limited are facing prosecution by the EFCC on a 22-count charge of alleged involvement in various offences such as retention of proceeds of unlawful activities to wit; fraud, failure to report transaction to the Commission as required by the provision of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act, 2011 (as amended), negotiating foreign exchange without licence, contrary to Section 5 and 29 of the Foreign Exchange Monitoring and Miscellaneous (Provisions) Act, 2004; engaging in foreign exchange transaction other than through the official foreign exchange market, contrary to provision of Section 11(1) (a) of the National Economic Intelligence Establishment Act to the tune of N32billion before Justice A. M. Liman of the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos.
“The Commission had called 10 witnesses and closed its case. But rather than enter his defense, Mompha filed a no-case submission which was overruled by the court and called upon to open his defense”.
Meanwhile, Mompha has recounted how his troubled friend, Hushpuppi, got himself into problems because of his “stubbornness.”
Mompha, who stated this during an Instagram Live with Daddy Freeze, said Hushpuppi and 11 of his friends were detained in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in June 2020 on charges of hacking, impersonation, scamming, financial fraud, and identity theft.
Narrating how Hushpuppi landed in trouble, Mompha said: “What fucked him (Hushpuppi) up was that he didn’t listen to me. He is stubborn hence his arrest and trial in the U.S.
“People will accuse you wrongly, what about me that brought Hushpuppi from Malaysia? wetin my eye no see?
”The day Hush was arrested I got a lot of calls, Baba see what you have caused, you made them arrest this guy he was competing with, even on that day because of the pressure people were putting on my page,” Mompha said.
“I had to remove my picture (after Hushpuppi’s arrest), EFCC had to call me directly to post my picture back because it will look as if maybe I was involved, many people will just come to my page and say you are next, FBI is coming for you, is that how it works?
“My case with EFCC was because someone felt the need to punish a big boy like me, all because of BDC’. Nigerians on social media love to gossip and wish bad luck to rich people. And it’s not my fault that I come from a rich home, I have even hustled all my life.
“And it is not my fault that I come from a rich home. Now everybody showing off is a fraud. In this life, you will face trial, just pray to overcome it”.
