Popular socialite declared wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ismaila Mustapha famously called Mompha has accused the anti-graft agency of blackmail and intimidation.
Newsbreak.ng on Wednesday reported that the renowned socialite who is facing a N6 billion fraud trial was declared wanted by the anti-graft agency.
In a notice signed by the anti-graft agency spokesperson, Wilson Uwajaren, the embattled social media celebrity was declared wanted for criminal offence.
However, Mompha responded to the development in a statement made available on his Instagram page on Thursday, saying that the EFCC used his absence to blackmail him through its lawyer, Rotimi Oyedepo.
He claimed that the agency’s lawyer blackmailed him into entering a plea bargain with the agency or risked being reported to the trial judge for travelling outside the country while standing trial.
“The EFCC Corrupt lawyer, Rotimi Oyedepo, rather than focus on the establishing his criminal case against me along with the EFCC operative Kaina Garba, chose to capitalize on the fact that I travelled to blackmail me into entering plea bargain with EFCC else he would inform the Judge I travelled and ensure my bail is revoked therefore making me have no choice than to dance to his tune,” Mompha said.
Justifying his trip outside the country, the socialite said he travelled to see his family shortly after he was released from the anti-graft agency’s custody.
“Upon my release, I travelled outside Nigeria to check on the welfare and wellbeing of my family and returned to Nigeria,” he added.
On January 12, EFCC arraigned Mompha and his company Ismalob Global Investment Ltd were arraigned for alleged N6 billion fraud.
He was however granted bail of N25million.
On June 22, a Lagos court revoked the bail granted to him after the controversial socialite’s absence for trial.
Discussion about this post