Justice Mohammed Liman of the Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has asked the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to return all items seized from suspected internet fraudster, Ismaila Mustapha aka Mompha.
The judge said the anti-graft agency should return the five wristwatches, a pair of Apple Airpods, one iPhone 8 mobile phone, and one pair of sunglasses seized from Mompha during the course of the investigation.
Justice Liman ruled that it was illegal for the EFCC to continue to hold onto the items eight months after seizing them, and when the items were not listed as exhibits in Mompha’s ongoing trial.
Mompha was first arraigned by the commission on 14 counts bordering on fraud, money laundering and running a foreign exchange business without the authorisation of the Central Bank of Nigeria.
He was arraigned alongside his firm, Ismalob Global Investment Ltd.
Mompha was alleged to have aided the Ismalob to retain an aggregate sum of N14billion in its account, which was procured from Pitacalize Ltd.
EFCC argued that the offences contravened the provisions of Sections 15(2) and 18(3) of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act.2011 as amended.
