Fraud / Law / News

Instagram influencer, Mompha, declared wanted by EFCC

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has declared social media celebrity, Ismaila Mustapha, popularly known as Mompha, a wanted person.

The EFCC made the declaration in a statement backed by a publication on its social media handles on Wednesday.

It called on members of the public with useful information on his whereabouts to contact the anti-graft agency.

“Wanted by the EFCC: Ismaila Mustapha. Anyone with useful information as to his whereabouts should contact the EFCC or the nearest police station,” the brief statement read.

Mompha, alongside his company, Ismalob Global Investment Limited, is being prosecuted by the EFCC on an eight-count charge bordering on ‘”conspiracy to launder funds obtained through unlawful activity, retention of proceeds of criminal conduct, laundering of funds obtained through unlawful activity, failure to disclose assets and property, possession of documents containing false pretense and use of property derived from unlawful act.”.

One of the counts reads: “Ismaila Mustapha, Ahmadu Mohammed (at large) and Ismalob Global Investment Limited, sometime in 2016, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, conspired amongst yourselves to conduct financial transactions to the tune of N5,998,884,653.18 ( Five Billion Nine Hundred and Ninety-eight Million Eight Hundred and Eighty-four Thousand Six Hundred and Fifty-three Naira Eighteen Kobo) with the intent of promoting the carrying on of specified unlawful activities to wit: obtaining by false pretense.”

Mompha pleaded “not guilty” to the charges, prompting the commencement of his trial.

He was remanded in the custody of the EFCC, but was later granted bail of N200 million, which he failed to fulfil.

The bail was later reduced to N25 million.

The trial had been stalled since June 16, 2022 due to the absence of the defendant.

On June 10, the EFCC ac­cused him of flouting the court’s order by travel­ling to Dubai with a new international passport.

Justice Mojisola Dada of the Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos State on June 22, 2022 revoked the N200 million bail earlier granted to the suspect and also issued a bench warrant for his arrest due …

Crime / Drugs / Fraud / News

Abba Kyari: Police unravel identities of suspected drug barons, NDLEA collaborators

The Force Headquarters on Monday unraveled the identities of the suspected drug barons who allegedly colluded with Deputy Commissioner of Police Abba Kyari and four others to ferry illicit drugs into the country.

Abba Kyari and four of his team members were declared wanted by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency on Monday.

The suspects had been arrested by the police and handed over to the NDLEA for further investigation. The Deputy Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, said in a statement in Abuja that some NDLEA officials were allegedly involved in the drug deal. He said that the police had carried out discreet investigation when it received a request from the NDLEA on February 10.

Adejobi said: “In line with standard administrative procedure of the Force, the Inspector General of Police ordered a high-level, discreet, and in-house investigation into the allegations.

“The interim investigations report revealed that two international drug couriers identified as Chibunna Patrick Umeibe and Emeka Alphonsus, both males, were arrested at Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, on January 19.

“The suspects were arrested upon their arrival from Addis Ababa aboard an Ethiopian Airlines flight ET917.

“The arrest led to the recovery of substantial quantity of powdery substance suspected to be cocaine from the two narcotic couriers.

“The operation which was intelligence-driven, was undertaken by a Unit of the Police Intelligence Response Team.”

Adejobi said the case and the two suspects were subsequently transferred to the NDLEA on January 25.

He said the findings of the in-house investigation ordered by the I-G, Usman Baba, established reasonable grounds for strong suspicion that the IRT officers involved in the operation could have been involved in some underhand and unprofessional dealings.

The Police spokesman said the finding showed that the officers were allegedly involved in official corruption, which compromised ethical standards in their dealings with the suspects and exhibits recovered.

He added: “Beyond this, the Police investigation also established that the international narcotics cartel involved in this case have strong ties with some officers of the National Drug Law …