A witness has come forward to reveal that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) uncovered a staggering sum of ₦35 billion in bank accounts linked to Ismaila Mustapha, alias Mompha, a prominent socialite.

This discovery is part of an ongoing trial where Mompha is facing charges of alleged fraud totaling ₦6 billion, as filed by the EFCC.

Recall that the EFCC, in 2022, arraigned Mompha and his company Ismalob Global Investment Limited on an eight-count charge of money laundering.

The charges include conspiracy to launder funds obtained through unlawful activity, retention of proceeds of criminal conduct, laundering of funds obtained through unlawful activity, and failure to disclose assets and property.

They also include possession of documents containing false pretences and use of property derived from unlawful acts, to which Mompha pleaded not guilty.

The socialite was said to have absconded, with the EFCC seeking to re-arrest and get him to court since June 16, 2022.

According to NAN, Idi Musa, an investigator with the EFCC, gave his testimony at a special offences court sitting in Ikeja on Monday.

Musa told the court that EFCC received a report from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) saying that Mompha and his company led a cybercrime in the US.

He said the information revealed that Mompha and his company belong to a syndicate defrauding internet users.

The witness said N35 billion was discovered in Mompha’s bank accounts.

Musa said the social media celebrity claimed he was “into Bureau De Change business but investigation showed that he was not”.

“In the course of the investigation, some letters were written to Zenith Bank and Fidelity Bank requesting account statements,” he said.

“The account statement was analysed. We discovered an ₦30 billion inflow through the account of the first defendant in Fidelity Bank and ₦5 billion in the Zenith Bank account.

“The combination of the FBI and an investigative report revealed that Mompha’s iPhone was used to send account details to a UAE telephone number to search for swift codes of a bank.”

The witness said all the properties recovered from Mmpha were registered with exhibit keepers in the EFCC office during his arrest.

He said most of the properties were released to him on bond, except his iPhone8 which was still with the commission.

Musa said the items are treated as proceeds of crime because he did not include them when he was handed an asset declaration form.

The prosecution tendered Mompha’s statement and his asset declaration form to the court.

They were admitted in evidence as exhibits P5 and P6.

Mojisola Dada, the presiding judge, adjourned the case until October 8 for continuation of trial.

The Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps (LAGESC) says it has seized a large quantity of styrofoam at the Ojuwoye market in the Mushin area of the state.

Recall that the Lagos government, on January 21, announced a ban on the usage and distribution of styrofoam and other single-use plastics across the state.

The federal government, on June 25, also placed a ban on single-use plastics in all ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) to address the growing plastic pollution in the country.

In a post on X (formerly known as Twitter) on Tuesday, Tokunbo Wahab, the Lagos state commissioner for environment and water resources, said operatives from the ministry discovered the styrofoam warehouse based on an intelligence tip-off.

The commissioner, who added that the products have been sent for incineration at Oshodi, reiterated the state’s resolve to ensure a healthy and cleaner environment.

Ahead of the state’s governorship election on September 21, 2024, a group running on the platform of the Obidient Movement has promised to support Senator Monday Okpebholo of the Edo State All Progressives Congress.

Due to his strong ties to the community, the group, which included members from the Edo South Senatorial District, announced their support for the APC candidate on Monday.

The Labour Party chapter in Edo State, however, denounced the endorsement of the APC candidate, stating that it was ludicrous for individuals identifying as Obidient Movement members to back candidates from other political parties.

The Obidient Movement, a youth movement which became famous during the build-up to the 2023 presidential election, was to coordinate and propagate the activities of the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Mr Peter Obi, for the election.

After the election, the party, under the leadership of Julius Abure, created the Obidient Directorate to cater to the yearnings of the members, but it was renamed after Obi’s rebuttal.

Obi had claimed that the Obidient Movement did not belong to any political party and should not be named as a directorate of any party.

Speaking during a meeting with Okpebholo, the Coordinator General of the Obidient Movement for Okpebholo, Ikhuenbor Igbinevbo, described the members of the movement as lovers of good governance, fairness and accountability.

He added, “We supported Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 election because we felt it was the turn of the Igbo.

“Right now in Edo, it is the turn of Esan and we need the most qualified to work for everybody, and not a stranger.”

Okpebholo, receiving the group, lauded the members for the support and pledged to repay the confidence reposed in him if voted to power.

He promised to surpass the achievements of Governor Godwin Obaseki in the first year of his administration.

“If they have done well, I would not have contested. I urged you to punish them with your votes because if you leave it for them, our unborn children will suffer,” he added.

Reacting, the Edo LP Publicity Secretary and Public Relations Officer, Sam Uruopa, said, “It is absurd to hear that Obidient Movement is supporting Okpebholo just the way some also said they were Obidient Movement for Asue Ighodalo.

“The Obidient Movement is synonymous with the Labour Party and integral members of the party.

“They have forgotten so soon how the party was denied the use of the Sam Ogbemudia Stadium before the presidential election. So, how can these people now declare support for Okpebholo or Ighodalo?

“For me, they have run out of ideas and do not know what they are doing at this point in time. They cannot be Obidient Movement and work against the party’s candidate, Olumide Akpata.”