The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC tendered more documents as evidence before an Ikeja Special Offences Court on Monday, February 3, against socialite, Ismaila Mustapha, popularly known as Mompha.
Mustapha, who is still at large, is standing trial alongside his company, Ismalob Global Investment Ltd., on eight counts related to money laundering.
Musa Idi, the sixth prosecution witness, was led in evidence by EFCC Counsel Suleiman Suleiman.
Idi, in the continuation of his evidence-in-chief on Monday, tendered documents purportedly received from the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
The Defence Counsel, Kolawole Salami, objected to the admissibility of the documents on the grounds that the documents, which originated from the US Department of Justice through the US Consulate office, were public documents and were not certified.
He argued that EFCC was not the maker of the documents and could not purportedly certify them.
In her ruling, Justice Mojisola Dada, however, admitted the documents as exhibits P8, P9, and P10 respectively.
The prosecution witness testified that Mompha admitted during the investigation that the wristwatches recovered by the anti-graft agency belonged to him.
“Even though he did not declare them in the Asset Declaration Form filled upon his arrest,” Musa said.
Under cross-examination by the defence, the witness confirmed to the court that Mompha was arrested in 2019 and was previously charged before the Federal High Court, Ikoyi, Lagos, for money laundering-related offences, which are still pending before the court.
He told the court that the wristwatches were ordered to be released to the defendant by two separate orders of the Federal High Court, which EFCC had failed to comply with.
The witness said that the document referred to in count seven was obtained in the absence of Mompha, and that when he was confronted with the document during the investigation, he denied knowledge of it.
Idi admitted that no petition was received from Continental Diary Facility Southwest LLC in respect of Mompha and that it was the commission that had enquired from the company, resulting in a statement being made.
The court adjourned the case until March 13 for the continuation of the trial.
