Ismaila Mustapha, better known as Mompha, has reacted after he was declared wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The anti-graft agency released a wanted person’s poster with Mompha’s face on it and asked the public to provide information on his whereabouts.
The EFCC said that Mompha failed to appear in court for his money laundering trial.
Reacting to the notice in lengthy Instagram posts on Thursday, Mompha noted that EFCC, via its lawyer, Rotimi Oyedepo, used his absence to blackmail him.
He added that the agency is a “charade” and he has come to the conclusion that he can’t get justice “within this corrupt-laden system”.
He also asked why the EFCC has not declared Nappy, his alleged co-conspirator, wanted.
He said this is because the agency has allegedly “extorted money, cars, and landed properties from Nappy” but they declared him (Mompha) wanted “to generate cheap publicity”.
He insisted he has not committed any crime and only paid money to Nappy in the normal course of his Bureau De Change business.
“I don’t know why EFCC are so jobless that they want to tarnish my image,” he wrote.
He added: “last last na International Court go settle this matter @officialefcc.”
In the statement titled, ‘Mompha Wanted By The EFCC’ – The Truth Story’, Mompha detailed the history of his arrest and arraignment by the EFCC.
Mompha said,
“After my arrest and arraignment on the first case at the Federal High Court Lagos, on the 10th of December 2021, the court gave me judgment and ordered EFCC to release my wrist watches and other valuables in their custody to me for having been unlawfully seized.
“Being a bitter agency, the EFCC in dissatisfaction with the judgment of the court on the release of my wristwatches came up with other trumped up charges against me.
He revealed that when he went to the commission to retrieve his wristwatch and other possession, he was held down at their office and charged to court.
“On the 10th of January 2022, while I was at there office at Okotie Eboh to retrieve my wristwatches in compliance with the judgment of the court and immediately after collecting my wristwatches, they held me down at their office and charged me to court the following day on the frivolous charges.
“I was arraigned before a familiar judge to the EFCC and in effect,I was given a very difficult bail to meet as a result of which I ended up spending over two months in prison custody while making efforts to meet the difficult bail.
“After several attempts to meet the bail conditions failed, I successfully applied for the bail conditions to be reduced which eventually led to my release.
“Upon my release, I traveled outside Nigeria to check on the welfare and wellbeing of my family and returned to Nigeria shortly only for 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.
“I initially refused but after so much blackmail and intimidation by Rotimi Oyedepo, I succumbed and was told to pay N142 million naira to EFCC as compensation and also sign for a one year imprisonment sentence which I was uncomfortable with and they thereafter reduced it to N40 million naira and one year imprisonment.
“When it became obvious to EFCC that I wasn’t going to sign the plea bargain and play to their game, they informed the Judge I travelled, without any concrete evidence and disregard.”
Speaking on being declared wanted, Mompha added, his refusal to sign the plea bargain and play to their game made the commission informed the judge that he traveled and without any concrete evidence, the judge declared him wanted.
“Finally it was obvious entering the plea bargain with the EFCC, which they wanted to force me into at all cost, means I would be convicted for a crime I did not commit and therefore become an ex convict.
“And this is what EFCC set out to achieve with me to enable them generate more social media publicity hence the desperation in falsely declaring me wanted and misleading the public.
“I want the general public to know I am not wanted by the EFCC but rather the court issued bench warrant for my production in court on the next court sitting.
“I didn’t steal from anyone or involved in any money laundering. I still don’t know why EFCC are so jobless that they want to tarnish my image. last last na international court go settle this matter.”
