Social media celebrity, Ismaila Mustapha alias Mompha, has denied claims made by the EFCC that he has been rearrested over N6 billion money laundering charges leveled against him.
EFCC had on Monday, May 15, released a statement claiming Mompha had been re-arrested. The statement from the commission said during a hearing on Mompha’s case on June 10, 2022, it informed the court that Mompha was in possession of another passport aside from the one submitted to the court, as part of his bail conditions, and that he had used same to travel from Ghana to Dubai on April 11, 2022 via Emirates Airlines in violation of the court order. Consequently, Justice DadaMo revoked the N25 million bail variation granted to Mompha and also issued a bench warrant for his arrest over his failure to appear in court.
The Commission The EFCC had also declared him wanted. The Commission said since June 16, 2022, Mompha absconded from the trial and that it continued with efforts to secure his arrest and appearance in court.The Commission mentioned that the court proceedings on Monday, its lawyer, S.I. Suleiman, informed the court that the prosecution, in collaboration with its international partners, had secured the arrest of the defendant. Suleiman told the Ikeja Special Offences Court that the prosecution in collaboration with its international partners had secured the arrest of Mompha.
“The prosecution will like to bring to the knowledge of my lord that in collaboration with our international partners, we have been able to apprehend the defendant. We plan to take him into custody and to produce him before the court. The counsel for the defendant reached out to me seeking for an adjournment that he will be absent today in court,” the statement quoted Suleiman as saying
However, in a statement released on his IG page today, Mompha dismissed the claim. He siad he is in Dubai with his family. He claimed the commission uses his name to trend anytime they seek media relevance.
‘’IDAN WAS NOT REARRESTED BY EFCC; 33BG IS NOT IN EFCC CUSTODY
Contrary to the recent publication in most media platforms in Nigeria that I, Mompha was rearrested by the EFCC. I want to use this medium to expose the corrupt and mischievous commission again that I was neither rearrested nor am I in the custody of the EFCC. This assertion by the EFCC is laughable because I am currently not in Nigeria more or less rearrested either in Nigeria
I hereby urge the commission to desist from this insensible media trial and stop misleading people through the press/media that I am in your custody and would produce me before the Court on the 3rd of July.
It has now become very clear that the only motive of the EFCC is to witch-hunt me and use my name MOMPHA to trend anytime they are looking for cheap media relevance. One would think Mompha would be the least of their worries during this period of change in government, and occupy themselves with task of going after the corrupt politicians who are impoverishing the ordinary Nigerians.
I want to thank my teeming fans and well wishers, who are concerned about my wellbeing and safety and I want to assure you all that I and my family are fine and currently enjoying ourselves in Dubai, away from the intimidation and harassment of the EFCC and the corrupt Nigeria judicial system.”
He also shared a video of him and his wife while driving in Dubai.
