Court Strikes Out ₦6bn Money Laundering Charges Against Mompha, Discharges Socialite

A Lagos State Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja has struck out the ₦6 billion money laundering charges filed against Nigerian socialite Ismaila Mustapha, popularly known as Mompha.

Justice Mojisola Dada delivered the ruling on Tuesday, November 10, 2026, holding that the prosecution of the same allegations before two different courts amounted to an abuse of court process.

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The judge ruled that a similar case was already pending before the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos, describing the decision to pursue the allegations in separate courts as forum shopping.

Consequently, Justice Dada struck out all eight charges against Mompha and discharged him, bringing the proceedings before the Lagos State Special Offences Court to an end.

EFCC Had Filed Eight Money Laundering Charges

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had, on January 12, 2022, arraigned Mompha and his company, Ismalob Global Investment Limited, over alleged financial crimes involving approximately ₦6 billion.

The charges included conspiracy to launder proceeds suspected to have been obtained through unlawful activities, retention of proceeds of criminal conduct, money laundering, failure to declare assets and possession of documents allegedly containing false information.

The anti-graft agency also accused Mompha, his company and an individual identified as Ahmadu Mohammed, who is said to be at large, of engaging in suspicious financial transactions valued at ₦5,998,884,653.18 in 2016.

According to the EFCC, the transactions were allegedly carried out to promote unlawful activities, including obtaining money through false pretences.

Mompha, however, pleaded not guilty to all the charges when he was arraigned.

EFCC Presented Six Witnesses During Trial

During the proceedings, the prosecution, led by lawyer Suleiman Suleiman, called six witnesses and tendered several documents as evidence to support its allegations.

However, the defence lawyers, Kolawole Salami and Ademola Adefolaju, did not call any witnesses during the trial.

The socialite also reportedly stopped attending court proceedings after being granted bail.

As part of his bail conditions, Mompha was required to deposit his international passport with the court.

He was subsequently accused of obtaining another passport and leaving Nigeria while the trial was still ongoing.

Judge Cites Pending Case at Federal High Court

In her ruling, Justice Dada held that continuing with the proceedings before her court while similar allegations were pending before the Federal High Court in Ikoyi was improper.

The judge consequently upheld the objection relating to the abuse of court process and struck out all eight counts against the socialite.

The decision discharges Mompha in the Lagos State Special Offences Court proceedings.

The ruling brings an end to the ₦6 billion money laundering case against him before that particular court, although the separate proceedings at the Federal High Court in Ikoyi remain a distinct matter.