FIDELITY BANK STAFF TESTIFIES AGAINST MOMPHA IN ALLEGED N6BN MONEY LAUNDERING CHARGE
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The compliance officer for Fidelity Bank, Mr. Ezekoli Ozoemenam, testified against social media star Ismaila Mustapha, often known as Mompha, on Monday. Mompha is accused of laundering six billion naira.
Mr. Suleiman Suleiman, the attorney for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), escorted the fourth prosecution witness, Ozoemenam, into the witness stand.
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The witness described in her testimony the contents of a bank account that was purportedly connected to Mompha.
According to the witness, he replied to the EFCC’s request for the account’s opening package.
“This is the Fidelity Bank opening package of the account that I sent to EFCC.
“It was printed from a perfectly working computer,” he said.
Then, the prosecution asked the court to accept the document as evidence when they offered it.
Mr. Kolawole Salami, the defence attorney, informed the court that he would hold off on objecting to the document being offered as evidence.
Salami questioned the witness during cross-examination if he was aware of the bank branch where the account was opened.
Salami also asked the witness if he was working at the bank’s headquarters at the time the account was opened in 2016.
The witness replied in the negative, adding that he was not at the headquarters.
“As at the time the account was opened, I was not at the headquarters.
“I was part of the internal control, and I moved from branch to branch, but I cannot remember which branch I was at, when the account was opened.
“Anomalies in bank accounts are reported to the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) and not EFCC but I do not know if the account was ever reported to NFIU.
“I cannot speak to the nature of the transactions conducted through the account as I am not the relationship manager,” the witness said.
Following that, EFCC counsel requested a witness summons from the court to force the appearance of the organisation’s next witness.
The witness complained of feeling insecure and receiving threats to his life, according to the attorney, who explained why he required the witness summons.
However, Justice Mojisola Dada stated that it was the prosecution’s responsibility to make sure its witnesses showed up in court.
Dada said: “There is no special cause placed before the court to warrant a witness summons.
“I do not know what position he is occupying that will make him feel threatened.
“If EFCC cannot secure his protection, how does a witness summons guarantee his protection?” the judge asked.
Reports have it that Mompha is currently at large.
His trial in absentia started on June 3, 2023 when a compliance officer with Access Bank testified against him.
The court, on Sept. 21 2022, ordered commencement of Mompha’s trial in absentia after he failed to appear before it severally.
EFCC had, on Jan. 22, 2022, arraigned Mustapha alongside his company, Ismalob Global Investment Ltd., on eight counts bordering on six billion Naira laundering.
The court, on June 22, 2022, issued a bench warrant for his arrest following his absence in court.
The court also revoked bail it granted the defendant.
On June 26, 2022, the social media personality did not appear in court either.
On July 10, the EFCC said that he had used a new international passport to fly to Dubai in violation of the court’s ruling.
Mompha is accused of conspiring to launder money earned through illegal activity as well as laundering money obtained via illegal activity.
The remaining ones are failing to declare assets, keeping money obtained through illegal activity, using property obtained through illegal activity, and possessing a document that is falsely represented.
In order to continue the trial, the judge postponed the case to July 1.
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