Suspected internet fraudster, Mompha granted N100 million bail

Suspected internet fraudster, Ismaila Mustapha, alias Mompha has been granted a bail of N100 million by a Federal High Court in Lagos, Southwest Nigeria.

He was granted bail on Friday after he was arraigned for alleged N33 billion fraud.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC had arrested Mompha on 19 October at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja for alleged fraud.

He was arraigned by the EFCC on Monday on 14-count charge at the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos, Southwest Nigeria.

But, Mompha pleaded not guilty to a 14-count charge bordering on the offences. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had filed a 14-count charge bordering on alleged fraud and money laundering against Bureau De Change boss Ismalia Mustapha, popular known as Mompha.

Mompha would be arraigned with his company, Ismalob Investments Limited. The commission said the charges border on money laundering to the tune of several billions of naira. It was also revealed that Mompha was arrested following a series of actionable intelligence linking him to money laundering on Friday, October 18.

Meanwhile, Mompha, has filed a fundamental rights enforcement suit against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, alleging unlawful detention and a violation of his rights.

He was arrested by the EFCC in October on allegation of cybercrime and money laundering.

In the suit he filed before the Lagos State High Court in Igbosere, Mompha is urging the court to award N5m against the EFCC for detaining him beyond the constitutionally-allowed period without being charged to court.

He prayed the court to order the EFCC to either immediately charge him to court or release him if it was not ready to charge him to court.

His lawyer, Mr Gboyega Oyewole (SAN), said his client, as a Nigerian, was entitled to the protection of his fundamental rights under sections 34, 35 and 36 of the 1999 constitution.

Oyewole said his client was arrested on October 19 at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja by the EFCC which accused him of money laundering.

He said the remand order which the EFCC obtained to keep Mompha had since expired and he ought to be released.

In a 20-paragraph supporting affidavit, one Olumuyiwa Ajidagba claimed that “The applicant (Mompha) has been subjected to physical, mental and psychological torture in the underground cell of the EFCC’s detention centre.”