An FBI report indicating Mompha’s iPhone was used to communicate account information to a phone number in the United Arab Emirates, look for bank Swift Codes and have a compromised Microsoft 365 account has been allowed into evidence by a Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja.
At the hearing on Monday, September 18, the trial judge, Justice Mojisola Dada, admitted the report.
The report was presented as evidence by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which is prosecuting Mompha on eight counts of fraud and money laundering.
Mompha and his company, Ismalob Global Investment Limited, were charged by the EFCC on eight counts, including conspiracy to launder money obtained through criminal activity, keeping money obtained through criminal activity, laundering money obtained through criminal activity, failing to disclose assets and property, possessing documents that contained false information, and using money obtained through criminal activity.
“Ismaila Mustapha, Ahmadu Mohammed (at large) and Ismalob Global Investment Limited, sometime in 2016, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, conspired amongst yourselves to conduct financial transactions to the tune of N5,998,884,653.18 with the intent of promoting the carrying on of specified unlawful activities, to wit: obtaining by false pretence,” one of the counts reads.
At the proceedings, the prosecuting counsel, S.I. Suleiman, through the witness, tendered two more documents, which included a report by the USA-based Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and an investigative report on Mompha’s iPhone, which the agency claimed was used for fraudulent practises.
However, the defence counsel, Kolawole Salami, raised an objection to the admissibility of the two documents, arguing that they were public documents that needed to be certified by the United States Consulate.
“The documents are not a Certified True Copy (CTC) and should not be admitted in court,” he said.
The objection was, however, overruled by the court.
Justice Dada upheld the submission of the prosecution that the documents were in their original state, stressing that, “the documents do not require certification”.
Under cross-examination, the witness told the court that the FBI’s forensic operations revealed that Mompha’s iPhone was used to send account details to a United Arab Emirates telephone number; searched for Swift Codes of a bank, and had a compromised Microsoft 365 account.
He further told the court that during analysis, it was uncovered that Mompha’s iPhone was also used to change payment delivery from cheque to wire transfer, after a third attempt.
He said: “The iPhone was used to make three attempts to transfer funds.
“The first two failed, but the third was successful.”
The case has been adjourned until Wednesday, November 1.
Alleluia is the Assistant Editor and Content Writer at LagosPost.ng. She is a prolific writer and editor, she has written features and news stories on Lifestyle, Sports, Business, Politics and B2B marketing. She is also an event coordinator, host and social media content creator.
