An Ikeja Special Offences Court has admitted as evidence the iPhone belonging to social media celebrity Ismaila Mustapha, popularly known as Mompha, in a case involving N6 billion money laundering charges.
Mompha, currently at large, is being tried alongside his company, Ismalob Global Investment Ltd., on an eight-count charge of money laundering.
During the hearing on Tuesday, Musa Idi, the sixth prosecution witness and an operative of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), informed the court that the iPhone underwent forensic analysis conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). According to Idi, fraudulent documents retrieved from the phone were printed as part of the evidence.
However, Mompha’s defense counsel, Kolawole Salami, objected to the phone being tendered as an exhibit, arguing that no certificate accompanied it to establish proper foundational grounds as stipulated by the Evidence Act.
Justice Mojisola Dada dismissed the objection, ruling in favor of the prosecution. The iPhone was admitted into evidence and marked as Exhibit P7.
In response to the defense’s concerns, the prosecution maintained that the Evidence Act did not prohibit the submission of the iPhone. Justice Dada agreed, overruling the defense.
The court has adjourned the case until January 3, 2025, for further trial proceedings.
