By Lukman Olabiyi
In a dramatic development in the case involving gospel music executive, Ezekiel Onyedikachi, aka EeZeeTee, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has withdrawn earlier allegations linking him to the misappropriation of gospel singer Mercy Chinwo’s earnings.
Instead, the EFCC has filed fresh charges focusing on regulatory violations relating to foreign exchange transactions and financial disclosures.
The EFCC had initially accused EeZeeTee, CEO of EeZee Global Concept Ltd of fraudulently converting funds belonging to Chinwo.
However, in a significant turn of events yesterday, the anti-graft agency filed an amended eight-count charge at the Federal High Court in Lagos, dropping any mention of Chinwo and shifting focus to violations of financial regulations.
The new charges alleged that between 2022 and 2023, EeZeeTee and his company engaged in unauthorized foreign exchange transactions and failed to report certain financial activities to the Special Control Unit Against Money Laundering (SCUML).
According to the EFCC, the company received $255,436 into its corporate account during this period without complying with required disclosure protocols.
One of the charges reads:“That you, Ezekiel Onyedikachi and EeZee Global Concept Ltd, sometime in June 2023 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, not being an authorized buyer of foreign currency appointed by the Central Bank of Nigeria under Section 5(1) of the Foreign Exchange Monitoring and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, CAP F34 LFN 2004, negotiated a foreign exchange transaction to wit: the naira equivalent of the sum of $52,895 with Mr. Oladotun Olaobaju Mureke.”
Another count accuses the defendant of carrying out a separate foreign exchange transaction worth $18,775 with one Gift Ugochi Christopher, outside the official market.
EeZeeTee pleaded not guilty to all the charges during his arraignment.
His lead counsel, Chikaosolu Ojukwu (SAN), informed the court that a bail application had already been filed and served on the EFCC, and urged the court to grant bail on liberal terms.
He also noted that both parties were in discussions to resolve the case amicably.
EFCC counsel, Bilikisu Buhari opposed the bail request, insisting that the defendant should be remanded in custody until the court rules on the application.
Presiding Judge, Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke, questioned how EeZeeTee appeared in court. EFCC counsel stated that an arrest warrant had been issued, but Ojukwu countered that his client was on administrative bail and had voluntarily appeared in court.
He added that no evidence of a snubbed invitation had been presented by the EFCC.
Justice Aneke adjourned ruling on the bail application to May 9, 2025, and in the meantime, released EeZeeTee into the custody of his counsel.