Justice Mojisola Dada of the the Special Offences Court in Ikeja, Lagos, has revoked the N200million bail earlier granted to Lagos socialite, Ismaila Mustapha, popularly known as Mompha, and issued a bench warrant for his arrest.
Justice Dada’s pronouncement was sequel to Mompha’s persistent absence from court proceedings
When the matter came up on Wednesday, the prosecuting Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) requested that the matter be temporarily stood down until noon for Mompha to be present in court for the continuation of about N5billion money laundering trial against him.
But when the case was re-called, Mompha was again absent from court.
The development prompted Justice Dada to ask: “So, where is the defendant?”
Responding, the defence lawyer, Mr Oyewole (SAN), who also expressed surprise at the development, told the court that he was given the assurance that his client would be in court.
He said, “I had his assurance until yesterday night that he will be in court, and that was why I was waiting downstairs for him.”
Oyewole further told the court that following the absence of Mompha at the previous sitting, he made efforts to ensure that he was in court for the continuation of the trial.
In his reaction, the prosecuting EFCC lawyer, Mr Rotimi Oyedepo, said: “If I say that this development is not shocking, it will be an understatement.
“As of yesterday, the learned senior advocate discussed with me and assured me that we should continue today with this proceedings.”
Oyedepo then informed the court that, “we’ve been able to file a plea bargain that he signed.”
He, however, noted that the defence lawyer seemed to have taken some steps, adding that “it appears it is not yielding any results.
“I urge your lordship to issue a warrant for his arrest and for the production of the defendant before your lordship.”
Granting Oyedepo’s request, Justice Dada then said, “The bail of the defendant is once again revoked and a bench warrant issued for his arrest against the next adjourned date of Thursday, June 30, 2022.”
Mompha was arraigned by the EFCC on January 12, 2022, following his alleged involvement in conspiracy to launder about N5billion funds obtained through unlawful activity, retention of proceeds of criminal conduct, laundering of funds obtained through unlawful activity, failure to disclose assets and property, possession of documents containing false pretence and use of property derived from an unlawful act.
The judge had on June 10, ordered the temporary revocation of Mompha’s bail but released him to his lawyer, who pleaded for one week to investigate the allegation by the EFCC that Mompha procured another passport different from the one submitted to the court, as part of conditions for his bail.
The EFCC also informed the court that Mompha used a new passport to travel from Ghana to Dubai thereby violating his bail terms.
The continuation of the trial was also stalled last Thursday, due to the absence of Mompha.
But Oyewole had requested a stand-down throughout the proceedings and assured the court that his client would soon be in court.
