Why And How Dubai-based Internet Celebrity, Mompha Was Re-arrested – EFCC

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has explained why it operatives in Lagos re-arrested a Dubai-based internet celebrity, Ismailia Mustapha, aka Mompha.

BIGPENNGR reports that Mompha was picked for alleged money laundering.

The EFCC, in a statement by its Head of Media and Publicity Wilson Uwujaren, said Mompha was taken into custody on Monday.

It said this followed suspicion that Mompha was laundering funds obtained through unlawful activities and had also retained alleged proceeds of crime.

Mompha is standing trial at the Federal High Court in Lagos alongside his company, Ismalob Global Investment Limited on an amended 22-count charge bordering on cyberfraud and money laundering to the tune of N32.9bn brought against him by the EFCC.

He pleaded not guilty to each of the counts.

The defendant was first arrested by the staff of the Nigeria Immigration Service on October 18, 2019 at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport while boarding an Emirates Airline Flight to Dubai, after he was put on a watch list by the EFCC.

The statement added: “Mompha is alleged to have used his registered companies to receive illicit funds on behalf of ‘yahoo yahoo’ boys from across the world in return for commissions.

“The account of one of his companies, Ismalob Global Investment Limited Bank, a Bureau de Change company, was allegedly used to launder funds derived from unlawful activities.

“Investigation has revealed a fraudulent transfer slip of $92, 412, 75 found in the suspect’s iPhone 8 device.

“He will soon be charged to court.”