The N32.9bn fraud trial of Internet celebrity, Ismaila Mustapha, alias Mompha, continued on Wednesday before the Federal High Court in Lagos with an official of the Special Control Unit Against Money Laundering, Mr Matthew Enu-Obun, testifying as the fourth prosecution witness.

Mompha is facing 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 last year alongside a firm, Ismalob Global Investment Limited.

The EFCC accused Mompha of procuring Ismalob Global Investment Limited and retaining in its bank account an aggregate of N32.9bn between 2015 and 2018.

At the resumed trial on Wednesday, Enu-Obun, while fielding questions from the EFCC prosecutor, Mr Rotimi Oyedepo, told Justice Mohammed Liman that the SCUML had no record of the transactions conducted by Ismalob Global Investment Limited between December 14, 2015 and January 25, 2018.

The witness said, “From the database search at the office, there is no information on Ismalob Global Investment Limited and all the transactions that were done on the company’s account between December 14, 2015 and January 25, 2018 are not in SCUML’s record.”

The court admitted in evidence a November 15, 2019 letter written by the EFCC to request information on Ismalob Global Investment Limited from SCUML and as well as the agency’s response to the anti-graft agency.

The witness was discharged by the court after cross-examination by the defence counsel, Mr Gboyega Oyewole (SAN).

Justice Liman adjourned further proceedings till February 26.

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