An Ikeja Special Offence Court on Tuesday ordered that a social media celebrity, Ismaila Mustapha alias Mompha, be remanded in the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over allegations of conspiracy to launder N5.9 billion.

The defendant was arraigned alongside his company, Ismalob Global Investment Ltd on a fresh eight-count charge of fraud.

The defendant is also currently facing trial at the Federal High Court Lagos on a 22-count fraud charge proffered against him by the EFCC.

He pleaded not guilty to a charge of conspiracy to launder funds obtained through unlawful activity, laundering of funds obtained through unlawful activity and retention of proceeds of criminal conduct.

Other charges are the use of property derived from an unlawful act, possession of documents containing false pretence and failure to disclose assets and properties.

Following the arraignment, the lead EFCC prosecutor, Mr Rotimi Oyedepo requested a trial date.

The defence counsel, Mr Gboyega Oyewole, SAN, however, informed the court that he had filed a bail application which had been served on the prosecution.

Responding, Oyedepo asked for time to respond to the bail application of the defence.

According to the EFCC, Mompha committed the alleged offence between 2016 to 2019 in Lagos.

The defendant is alleged to have conspired alongside Ahmadu Mohammed now at large to conduct N5.9 billion worth of financial transactions with the intent of committing the offence of obtaining by false pretence.

The prosecution alleges that the defendant also conducted other illegal transactions.

“On Jan. 28, 2019, the defendant and his company, with the intent of promoting one Olayinka Jimoh alias ‘Nappy Boy’ conducted unlawful financial transactions in the sum of N32million.

“The said sum involves the proceeds of a specified unlawful activity which is obtained by false pretence.

“On Feb. 11, 2019, he retained the aggregate sum of N20million on behalf of Jimoh which he was aware that the said sum was proceeds of Jimoh’s criminal conduct (obtaining by false pretence),” he said.

The EFCC alleges that Mompha on Feb.11, 2019, transferred the sum of N15.9 million to Naptown Records and on Feb. 13, 2019, transferred the sum of N20 million to Wisegate Sleek System.