Justice Mojisola Dada of the Special Offences Court in Ikeja has warned against what she described as delay tactics in the ongoing Mompha N6bn money laundering trial.
At Monday’s sitting, the court frowned at an application filed by Ismaila Mustapha, popularly known as Mompha, seeking leave to appeal a previous ruling that dismissed his no-case submission.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had arraigned Mustapha and his firm, Ismalob Global Investment Limited, on January 12, 2022, on an eight-count charge bordering on alleged N6bn money laundering, conspiracy, retention of proceeds of criminal conduct and failure to disclose assets.
One of the charges alleges that Mustapha and others at large conspired in 2016 to conduct financial transactions totalling N5.9bn to promote unlawful activities linked to obtaining money by false pretence.
Mustapha pleaded not guilty, prompting a full trial. The prosecution called five witnesses and tendered documentary evidence before closing its case.
The defence subsequently filed a no-case submission, arguing that the prosecution failed to establish any link between the defendant and the alleged offences.
However, in a ruling delivered on November 4, 2025, Justice Dada held that the prosecution had established a prima facie case and ordered the defendants to open their defence.
At the resumed hearing, defence counsel Kolawole Salami told the court that the defendants had filed an application seeking leave to appeal the ruling. He argued that no prima facie case had been made and expressed confidence that the appellate court would overturn the decision.
Prosecution counsel S. I. Suleiman opposed the move, insisting that the matter was slated for the defence to open its case. He told the court the trial had been ongoing since 2021 and accused the defence of attempting to stall proceedings.
Justice Dada directed the defence to proceed, noting that while the right to appeal is constitutional, the court would not allow proceedings to be frustrated.
When the defence said its witness was unavailable and outside the court’s jurisdiction, the judge granted an adjournment but warned it would be the last indulgence.
The case was adjourned until April 28, 2026, for continuation of trial.
