The Ikeja Special Offences Court has closed the defence case in the ongoing trial of social media influencer Ismaila Mustapha over alleged money laundering involving ₦6 billion.
Mustapha, alongside his firm Ismalob Global Investment Ltd, faces eight counts including conspiracy to launder illicit funds, retention of criminal proceeds, and non-disclosure of assets.
He was arraigned in January 2022 and is currently being tried in absentia before Justice Mojisola Dada.
At Tuesday’s proceedings, the court ruled that the defence had failed to call witnesses despite being given sufficient opportunity.
The judge dismissed a witness summons application filed by defence counsel, Mr Kolawole Salami, holding that it was wrongly issued and appeared designed to delay the case.
She stated that the defence had already cross-examined prosecution witnesses and that no new evidence was required at this stage.
Counsel to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Mr Suleiman Suleiman, opposed the defence request, describing it as a delaying strategy and urging the court to proceed.
The court ordered both parties to file their final written addresses and fixed 30 June for adoption of processes, bringing the defence phase of the trial to a close.
