Following the arrest of social media celebrity, Ismaila Mustapha (a.k.a. Mompha), a Lebanese identified as Hamza Kodeih and two other suspects have been arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in relation to the N33 billion fraud.
Recall that Investors King had earlier reported that Mompha has been taken into custody by the anti-graft agency, following a series of intelligence reports.
According to fresh reports, the Lebanese who was Mompha’s accomplice was arrested at the weekend after a three-hour stand-off at his N1.8 billion luxury apartment in the 33-story Eko Atlantic Pearl Tower, Victoria Island, Lagos.
Mr. Mohammed Rabo, EFCC Lagos Zonal Head who confirmed the arrest of the cyber-criminals, narrated the hectic struggle the anti-graft agency went through before they were able to arrest Koudeih as different charms and talismans in calabashes were found in his fire-proof safe.
Ismaila Mustapha, popularly known as Mompha
The Lebanese and his wife reportedly refused to open the door despite appeals from the building’s chief security officer before the agency eventually pushed the door down to gain access to the building.
“Our officials knew that he was still inside and they were even hoping to persuade him not to jump out through the window because it would be suicide,”
After gaining access into the apartment, koudeih was nowhere to be found, the EFCC operatives observed that a part of the ceiling in his bedroom had been artificially sealed which he has been hiding.
The agency has, however, begun an investigation on Koudeih and his wife’s immigration status and the result is being expected.
Meanwhile, the two other suspects’ nationalities are yet to be known as the local and international law enforcement agencies had indicated interest to collaborate in the investigation.
Rabo said, “an offshoot of the collaboration between the EFCC and the United States’ Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI),” but that Koudeih was arrested based on “purely EFCC intelligence”.
“Actionable intelligence received from local and international law enforcement agencies had revealed that Koudeih and Mompha alongside their collaborators are high valued targets in Organised Cyber Syndicate Network (OCSN).
“Investigations have also revealed that Mompha uses a firm known as Ismalob Global Investments Limited to perpetrate about N14 billion money laundering while Koudeih also operates two firms namely: THK Services Limited and CHK properties Limited to launder about N19 billion.”
Meanwhile, there are speculations that the anti-graft agency’s raid might also lead to the arrest of another social media celebrity, Hushpuppi who is also a friend to Mompha.
An American computer forensic researcher on Malware and social network of Criminals at the University of Alabama, Gar Warner who believed Mompha hid his money in Dubai, hinted that: “to see the scale of this guy’s (Mompha) criminal earnings, just look at his Instagram account maybe they’ll get his friend #Hushpuppi next ??.”
