A Lebanese man identified as Hamza Koudeih, has been arrested by the EFCC in suspicion of being an accomplice to Dubai-based Nigerian instagram ‘Big boy’ Ismaila Mustapha a.k.a Mompha.
Koudeih had finally been apprehended after the EFCC lay siege to his N1.8 billion luxury apartment in the 33-storey Eko Atlantic Pearl Tower, Victoria Island, for about 3 hours.
He had barricaded himself inside alongside his wife and didn’t respond to the building’s chief security personnel.
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The suspect who alongside Mompha and other arrested suspects are allegedly kingpins of a network of cyber criminals who laundered N33 billion through three firms, lived in an apartment which was fortified with triple reinforced fire-proof door and closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras, making it difficult for the operatives to gain entrance.
Operatives had finally gained entrance into the fortified apartment after making use of equipment and breaching tools. His wife had however claimed that her husband had escaped through the window even though they were at the topmost floor of the building.
After a thorough search, Koudeih was discovered hiding in the ceiling with a fire-proof safe whose contents were revealed to be charms and talismans in calabshes.
Two luxury cars were recovered from the suspect who claimed the charms were his “prayer objects”.
International law enforcement agencies are said to have offered assistance in the ongoing case as Koudeih and his wife’s immigration status are being investigated.
“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 operate two firms namely: THK Services Limited and CHK properties Limited to launder about N19 billion.”
Meanwhile, Mompha’s Instagram account has been deactivated since his arrest. It’s unclear if it wasn’t done by the agency.
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