Justice Mojisola Dada of the Lagos State Special Offences Court, Ikeja, has dismissed the no-case submission filed by social media celebrity Ismaila Mustapha, popularly known as Mompha, in his ongoing ₦5.9 billion money laundering trial.

The court ruled that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had established a prima facie case against Mompha and his company, Ismalob Global Investment Limited, requiring them to enter their defence.

Justice Dada held that the prosecution had presented sufficient evidence linking the defendants to the alleged offences. The case was subsequently adjourned to January 27 and 28, 2026, for continuation of hearing.

Mompha, a Dubai-based businessman famous for flaunting his luxurious lifestyle on social media, faces an eight-count charge bordering on conspiracy to launder funds, retention of criminal proceeds, failure to disclose assets, and possession of fraudulent documents.

One of the charges reads:

“Ismaila Mustapha, Ahmadu Mohammed (at large), and Ismalob Global Investment Limited, sometime in 2016 in Lagos, conspired among themselves to conduct financial transactions to the tune of ₦5,998,884,653.18 with intent to promote specified unlawful activities — to wit: obtaining by false pretence.”

Since 2019, Mompha has been the subject of multiple EFCC prosecutions, accused of laundering billions of naira on behalf of cybercrime syndicates and using his company to conceal illicit funds.

He has, however, maintained his innocence, alleging that his prosecution is politically motivated and aimed at tarnishing his reputation.