A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has ordered the forfeiture of 11 luxury items confiscated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) from Ismaila Mustapha popularly known as Mompha.
The items include 5 luxury wristwatches, 5 luxury sunglasses and a phone.
All items were were seized by the EFCC in 2019 when Mompha was arrested at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.
Giving the order for forfeiture, Justice Lewis Allagoa stated that the items will remain confiscated while the investigation of Mompha and his company, Ismalob Global investment continues.
Mompha and his company are facing a 14 count charge bordering on money laundering to the tune of N32.9 billion before Justice Mohammed Liman of the Federal High Court (FHC), Lagos.
The judge gave the order on Wednesday, the 13th of October after hearing an ex-parte application argued by the EFCC counsel, Chinenye Ugokwe.
The EFCC supported its application by submitting an affidavit from an investigating officer, Bot Dachung.
According to Dachung, “The purpose of this application is to prevent the respondents from tampering and/or dissipating the properties listed in the schedule to this application which are reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities.
“If the properties listed in the schedule to this application are not temporarily and timeously forfeited, efforts of the ongoing investigation relating to internet/cyber-related crimes and possible prosecution would be to nought.”
