The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has prayed the Federal High Court in Lagos to re-arraign Internet celebrity, Ismaila Mustapha, alias Mompha, having amended the money laundering charges filed him.
Recall that the anti-graft agency had November last year arraigned Mompha on 14 counts, bordering on fraud, money laundering and running a foreign exchange business without the authorisation of the Central Bank of Nigeria.
He had pleaded not guilty, granted N100m bail and trial had commenced.
In a recent development, EFCC informed the court that the charges against Mompha had been amended, and prayed that Mompha and his co-defendant, Ismalob Global Investment Limited, be re-arraigned on Wednesday’s return trial date.
When the amended charges were read to them, the defendants pleaded not guilty.
However, the defence counsel, Mr Gboyega Oyewole (SAN), sought a short adjournment to study the amended charge sheet, which he said was only served on him in court on Wednesday morning.
As opposed to the old charge sheet, which had 14 counts, the amended charge sheet contains 22 counts.
