Kehinde Fajobi
The Special Offences Court in Ikeja, Lagos, has admitted an iPhone belonging to internet celebrity Ismaila Mustapha, popularly known as Mompha, as evidence in his ongoing fraud trial.
Justice Mojisola Dada overruled objections raised by Mompha’s defence counsel, Ademola Adefolaju, who argued that a proper foundation was not established for the admission of the device.
Mompha and his company, Ismalob Global Investment Limited, are facing an eight-count charge, including conspiracy to launder funds, retention of proceeds from criminal activities, failure to disclose assets, and possession of documents with false pretence.
At the December 3 hearing, Suleiman Suleiman, counsel for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), continued examining Detective Idi Musa, the prosecution’s sixth witness.
Musa presented Mompha’s iPhone in court, claiming it was used for fraudulent activities.
The EFCC sought to tender the device as Exhibit, but Adefolaju objected.
“My lord, I’m objecting to it on the ground that proper foundation was not laid in respect of the iPhone, and so it should not be admitted in court,” he argued.
The prosecution countered, stating that the iPhone had been retrieved during investigations and sent to the FBI for forensic analysis, a process confirmed in court by an FBI representative.
Documents printed from the device had already been presented as evidence.
After hearing both sides, Justice Dada admitted the iPhone as Exhibit P7 and adjourned the case to February 3, 2025, for the continuation of the trial.