Dec. 3, 2024

An Ikeja Special Offences Court on Tuesday admitted as evidence the iPhone of the social media celebrity, Ismaila Mustapha (alias Mompha) charged with six billion naira money laundering.

Mustapha, still at large, is standing trial alongside his company, Ismalob Global Investment Ltd., on eight counts bordering on money laundering.

Musa Idi, the sixth prosecution witness, in the continuation of his evidence-in-chief, on Tuesday told the court that the iPhone was duly taken for forensic analysis by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

Idi, an operative of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), while being led in evidence by Mr Suleiman Suleiman, said that fraudulent documents were printed out from the phone.

Suleiman confirmed to the court that the iPhone was obtained during the course of the investigation.

He, thereafter, sought to tender the iPhone as an evidence before the court.

Mompha’s Counsel, Mr Kolawole Salami, objected to the tendering of the iPhone as an exhibit.

Salami argued that no proper foundation was laid, as no certificate was tendered with the phone.

The court then asked the defence counsel if he did not listen to what the witness said.

The prosecutor, in his response to the defence, argued that the contention that there was no provision of the Evidence Act posed no issue.

“We urge your lordship to discountenance the submission of the defence and admit the documents in evidence,” Suleiman said.

Justice Mojisola Dada, in a short ruling, overruled the objection and upheld the arguments of the prosecution.

Dada admitted the iPhone in evidence and marked it as exhibit P7.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the witness had on July 1 narrated to the court how he came across Mompha and his company during the investigation.

He said the commission received an intelligent information from FBI that Mompha and his company led a cybercrime in the United States of America.

At the last adjourned date, two documents, the statement of first defendant and an asset declaration were admitted in evidence and labeled exhibits p5 and p6.

The court adjourned the case until Jan. 3 ,2025 for continuation of trial. (NAN)