Judge Ends Defence in Mompha Six‑Billion Naira Laundering Trial After Witness No‑Show

The Ikeja Special Offences Court closed the defence segment of the alleged six‑billion‑naira money laundering case against social media celebrity Ismaila Mustapha, also known as Mompha, who faces charges alongside Ismalob Global Investment Ltd. The court treats the naira as the unit of account, with the case benchmarked against similar large‑scale financial crime trials in Nigeria that often involve turnover metrics comparable to major stock tickers like Dangote Cement (DANG) or MTN (MTN) in terms of market cap sensitivity.

Justice Mojisola Dada barred the defence from calling a prosecution witness as a defence witness, stating that such a move would cause confusion and that proceeding without a witness would waste court time. Defence counsel Kolawole Salami acknowledged failing to produce witnesses that morning, describing the court’s directive to file final written addresses as necessary to avoid delay. The judge underscored that the defence had ample prior cross‑examination and that no new evidence was expected, directing the parties to submit final arguments by June 30.

What it means is that the trial advances toward a ruling on the eight counts of conspiracy, retention of proceeds, and non‑disclosure, with the court firmly rejecting procedural tactics. What to watch next is the June 30 deadline for final addresses and any subsequent appeal ruling on the no‑case submission.