N6bn Money Laundering Case: Mompha Gets More Time For Plea Bargain

An Ikeja Special Offences Court will, on June 10, take final report on plea bargain in the  case of six billion Naira money laundering  against social media celebrity, Ismaila Mustapha popularly known as Mompha.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports  that  Justice Mojisola Dada gave the date after defence and prosecution counsel  prayed for extension of time.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had, on Jan. 12, arraigned Mustapha (alias Mompha) and his company, Ismalob Global Investment Ltd. on an eight-count charge.

The counts include conspiracy to launder money obtained through unlawful activities, and laundering of money obtained through unlawful activities.

The other charges include retention of proceeds of criminal conduct, use of property derived from unlawful act, possession of document containing false pretences and failure to disclose assets.

On Thursday, defence counsel, Mr Kolawole Salami, who held brief for Mr Gboyega Oyewole (SAN), informed the court that discussions were ongoing on plea bargain with EFCC on the charges against Mompha.

He prayed the court for extension of time for both parties to reach a conclusion.

“My lord, the matter was adjourned until today for report.

“We, on our part, have submitted a proposal to EFCC but we received its own proposal just yesterday.

“In furtherance of that, a meeting was held at  prosecution’s office at 4.00 p.m. to discuss the terms of the proposal.

“We made a considerable progress at the meeting yesterday. We both agreed on one or two areas.

“We shall be praying for a short date to report, but if we are not able to reach a conclusion, we shall proceed to trial, my lord,”  Salami said of the plea bargain talks with the lawyers of Mompha.

EFCC counsel, Mr S.I. Suleiman confirmed the position of defence, and also prayed for an adjournment.

“We confirm the position of defence, my lord.

“We reached out to defence team and the parties met at the prosecution’s office yesterday.

“We need a little fine-tuning,  my lord, as we humbly ask  for your indulgence to extend the date for the report,” Suleiman said.

NAN reports that prosecution had informed the court on April 6 that both parties were in the process of plea bargain, and prayed the court for adequate time.

The court had, on March 28, reduced the bail sum for the defendant,  from N200 million to N25 million. (NAN)

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