An Ikeja Special Offences Court on Tuesday admitted as evidence the iPhone of the social media celebrity, Ismaila Mustapha (alias Mompha) charged with N6 billion money laundering.
Mustapha, who is still at large, is standing trial alongside his company, Ismalob Global Investment Ltd., on eight counts bordering on money laundering.
The sixth prosecution witness, Musa Idi, in the continuation of his evidence-in-chief on Tuesday, informed the court that the iPhone was duly taken for forensic analysis by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, FBI.
Idi, who is an operative of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, while being led in evidence, said that fraudulent documents were printed out from the phone.
Mompha’s Counsel, Mr Kolawole Salami, objected to the tendering of the iPhone as an exhibit, arguing that no proper foundation was laid, as no certificate was tendered with the phone.
The court then asked the defence counsel if he did not listen to what the witness said.
The prosecutor, in his response to the defence, argued that the contention that there was no provision of the Evidence Act posed no issue.
Justice Mojisola Dada, in a short ruling, overruled the objection and upheld the arguments of the prosecution, admitting the iPhone in evidence and marked it as exhibit P7.
The court adjourned the case until January 3 ,2025 for continuation of trial.
Alleged N6bn money laundering: Court admits Mompha’s iPhone in evidence
