A Lagos State Special Offences Court has closed the defence of social media personality Ismaila Mustapha, popularly known as Mompha, in his ongoing trial over alleged ₦6 billion money laundering charges.
Mompha is standing trial alongside his firm, Ismalob Global Investment Ltd, on an eight-count charge bordering on conspiracy, laundering of unlawfully obtained funds, retention of criminal proceeds, and failure to disclose assets.
He was arraigned on January 12, 2022, and is currently being tried in absentia.
Presiding judge, Mojisola Dada, ordered the closure of the defence after counsel failed to present any witnesses.
The court also set aside a witness summons filed by the defence, describing it as erroneous and a tactic aimed at delaying proceedings.
Justice Dada criticized the move to call a prosecution witness as a defence witness, stating that it would create unnecessary confusion and waste judicial time.
She noted that the witness in question had already been thoroughly cross-examined by the defence.
According to the court, the defence had been given sufficient opportunity to question the prosecution’s witness and had exhausted all relevant lines of inquiry.
The judge subsequently directed the defence to proceed with filing its final written address.
The court emphasized that the case, which dates back to 2021, had experienced multiple delays, including prior adjournments where defence counsel was absent.
It ruled that there was no justification for further prolonging the trial.
Failure in securing witnesses
Earlier, defence counsel Kolawole Salami had told the court that efforts to secure witnesses had failed, stating that one key witness was unavailable and outside the court’s jurisdiction.
He also sought to summon a prosecution witness to testify for the defence.
However, prosecution counsel Suleiman Suleiman opposed the application, arguing that it was a deliberate attempt to stall the case.
He urged the court to close the defence, noting that ample time had already been granted.
The court agreed with the prosecution and ordered both parties to file their final written addresses.
The matter was adjourned until June 30 for adoption of the final submissions.
Despite closing the defence, the court granted leave for an appeal against its earlier ruling delivered on November 4, 2025, which dismissed the defendants’ no-case submission.
The defence had argued that the prosecution failed to establish a prima facie case even as Justice Dada warned against delay tactics, stressing that no further adjournments would be entertained in the matter.
