He was at the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Ikoyi, Lagos office to retrieve his designer items last Friday.But the Internet celebrity, Ismaila Mustapha, aka Mompha was re-arrested.
However, Mompha, on Tuesday demanded N5 million from the EFCC for “unlawful re-arrest and detention.”
In the suit Mompha is claiming that EFCC acted “without any plausible reason or explanation”, during his visit to the commission’s Ikoyi office to retrieve several items seized from him last October 19.
Mompha, who is facing money laundering charges before the Federal High Court, was rearrested last Friday when he went to the EFCC office in Ikoyi, Lagos to reclaim his belongings.
Justice Mohammed Liman had on July 24 ordered the EFCC to release the five wristwatches, one Apple Air pod, one iPhone 8 mobile phone, and one pair of sunglasses, seized from Mompha.
The judge ruled that since the items were not listed as exhibits in the money laundering charges filed against Mompha, the EFCC had no justification to continue to hold onto them.
He dismissed the submission by the EFCC that Mompha was still under investigation for another offence, saying there was nothing before the court to back the submission.
“Failure to release the property is illegal. As of today, no charge has been file regarding the items. It is too long to withhold the applicant properties,” the judge had held.
However, Mompha’s lawyer Mr Gboyega Oyewole (SAN), confirmed that he (Mompha) was rearrested before he left the premises of the EFCC office in Ikoyi after collecting the items.
The spokesman for the EFCC, Mr. Dele Oyewale, also confirmed the development.
He noted that “The fresh arrest is unconnected to the existing charges in court.”
Oyewale added that the fresh arrest “is related to Internet fraud.”
Mompha, on trial at the Federal High Court in Lagos for allegedly laundering N33billion, was re-arrested last Friday by the EFCC.
The anti-graft agency explained that although Mompha was granted N100million bail last November, he was wanted in connection with fresh cyber fraud allegations.