The Lagos State Special Offences Court, Ikeja, on Tuesday admitted as evidence the iPhone of the social media celebrity, Ismaila Mustapha aka alias Mompha, in his trial for alleged money laundering.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arraigned Mustapha for alleged money laundering to the tune of N6 billion.
The social media celebrity, who is still at large, was arraigned alongside his company, Ismalob Global Investment Limited, on an eight-count charge of money laundering.
The sixth prosecution witness, Musa Idi, in the continuation of his evidence-in-chief, told the court that the iPhone was duly taken for forensic analysis by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
Idi, an EFCC operative, while being led in evidence by the commission’s counsel, Mr. Suleiman Suleiman, said the fraudulent documents were printed out from the phone.
Suleiman confirmed to the court that the iPhone was obtained during the investigation.
He, thereafter, sought to tender the iPhone as evidence before the court.
READ ALSO: Court admits FBI’s report claiming Mompha used iPhone for alleged N6bn fraud
Mustapha’s counsel, Kolawole Salami, objected to the tendering of the iPhone as an exhibit.
Salami argued that no proper foundation was laid because 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.
“We urge your lordship to discountenance the submission of the defence and admit the documents in evidence,” Suleiman said.
Justice Mojisola Dada, in a short ruling, overruled the objection and upheld the arguments of the prosecution.
Dada admitted the iPhone in evidence and marked it as exhibit P7.
The judge adjourned the case till January 3, 2025, for continuation of trial.
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