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Internet fraudster suspect Mompha, Lebanese collaborator laundered N33 billion – Magu
BY OUR EDITOR
The Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu, Thursday, said investigation conducted following the arrest of alleged Internet fraudster, Ismaila Mustapha, popularly called Mompha, revealed that the suspect and his Lebanese collaborator had laundered about N33 billion.
The suspects, Magu said, laundered the humungous amount using three different firms.
The EFCC chairman also said that Mompha operates 51 bank accounts in Nigeria with which he acquired properties in Dubai and that five wristwatches valued at over N60 million were recovered from him at the point of arrest.
A statement from EFCC spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren, said Magu made the revelation during an interactive session with stakeholders at the Lagos Zonal office of the Commission.
The statement quoted the EFCC boss as describing the arrests of Mompha and his Lebanese collaborator, Hamza Koudeih, for alleged involvement in Internet-related fraud and money laundering as a landmark achievement for the EFCC.
Magu said actionable intelligence received from local and international law enforcement agencies had revealed that the suspects, alongside their collaborators, were high-valued targets in Organized Cyber Syndicate Network (OCSN).
The Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu, (Middle) at the interactive session with stakeholders at the Lagos Zonal office of the Commission on Thursday in Lagos.
“I make bold to tell you that these arrests have further confirmed our commitment to the anti-graft war, while also sending a red alert to potential internet fraudsters.
“I am sure you will be greatly shocked to know that five wristwatches valued at over N60 million were recovered from the suspected internet fraudster, Mompha, at the point of arrest.
“Investigation has also revealed that he operates 51 bank accounts in Nigeria with which he acquires properties in Dubai and had laundered about N14 billion through a firm known as Ismalob Global Investments Limited,” Magu said.
He added: “His accomplice, Koudeih, also has two firms namely: THK Services Limited and CHK properties Limited with which he has allegedly laundered about N19 billion.
“Koudeih lives in a $5 million per annum suite at the Eko Atlantic Pearl Tower, Victoria Island, Lagos.”
The EFCC chair also said the Commission had begun forensic analysis of the phones, documents and “strange” items recovered from both suspects.
“They will be charged to court accordingly as soon as investigation is concluded,” he noted.
Magu also emphasised the fact that the Commission, prior to the arrests of both Mompha and Koudeih, had independently launched intensive investigative actions against the Internet fraudsters, popularly known as Yahoo Yahoo Boys, culminating in various strategic raids on their hideouts.
He revealed that the Commission might soon put in place a policy of rehabilitating convicted internet fraudsters so that they could deploy “their computer wizardry to good use for the overall well-being of the society.”
He further disclosed that the EFCC would soon commence the auctioning of recovered items, adding that the commission wants to ensure there is transparency in the process of auctioning the items.