In a significant development, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has removed the name of popular gospel singer Mercy Chinwo from its amended charges against gospel music executive Ezekiel Onyedikachi, widely known as EeZeeTee.
The EFCC had earlier accused EeZeeTee, Chief Executive Officer of EeZee Global Concept Ltd, of misappropriating Chinwo’s earnings.
However, during proceedings at the Federal High Court in Lagos on Wednesday, the commission filed a revised eight-count charge that now centres on alleged breaches of financial regulations.
According to the amended charges, EeZeeTee is accused of failing to disclose financial transactions and engaging in unauthorised foreign exchange dealings between 2022 and 2023.
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The EFCC alleges that EeZee Global Concept Ltd received $255,436 during this period without reporting the transactions to the Special Control Unit Against Money Laundering, as required by law.
Further allegations include that, in June 2023, Onyedikachi and his company, without being authorised by the Central Bank of Nigeria to deal in foreign exchange, negotiated a currency transaction involving $52,895 with one Mr Oladotun Mureke.
In a separate instance, EeZeeTee is accused of conducting another unauthorised foreign exchange deal valued at \$18,775 with one Gift Ugochi Christopher, thereby bypassing the official market.
EeZeeTee pleaded not guilty to all charges.
His legal counsel, Chikaosolu Ojukwu (SAN), informed the court that a bail application had already been submitted and served on the EFCC. He appealed for bail to be granted on liberal terms, revealing that both parties were in discussions towards an out-of-court settlement.
However, EFCC counsel Bilikisu Buhari opposed the bail application, urging the court to remand the defendant pending a formal ruling on the matter.
Presiding judge, Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke, sought clarification regarding how the defendant had appeared in court. While the EFCC stated that an arrest warrant had been issued, Ojukwu countered that his client was already on administrative bail and had voluntarily presented himself for the hearing, with no record of having ignored any previous summons.
Justice Aneke adjourned ruling on the bail application to **9 May 2025**, and ordered that EeZeeTee be released into the custody of his legal counsel in the meantime.
