The former manager of renowned gospel singer Mercy Chinwo, Ezekiel ThankGod Onyedikachukwu, better known in the entertainment industry as EeZeeTee, has been granted bail in the sum of ₦20 million by the Federal High Court in Lagos over allegations of involvement in a $397,106 foreign exchange fraud.
The bail was granted by Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke, who ruled on Friday that the music executive must provide one surety who not only resides in Lagos but also owns property of equal value to the bail amount. The court further instructed that EeZeeTee has 72 hours to fulfill the bail conditions, although he was temporarily released to his counsel, Mr. Ojukwu Chikaosolu.
The case, which has gained significant media attention due to EeZeeTee’s past affiliation with top gospel acts, including Mercy Chinwo, stems from investigations by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The agency had originally filed 14 counts of fraudulent conversion against the music promoter but later amended the charges to seven counts, focusing on alleged unlicensed foreign exchange transactions.
During court proceedings, prosecuting counsel Bilikisu Buhari-Bala detailed one of the key transactions in question, saying:
“In June 2023, the defendant, without authorisation from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), negotiated a foreign exchange transaction worth $52,895 with one Mr. Oladotun Olaobaju Mureke.”
She further argued that this action contravenes Sections 5 and 29(1)(c) of the Foreign Exchange (Monitoring and Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, Cap F34, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, and is punishable under Section 29(2) of the same Act.
Despite the gravity of the charges, EeZeeTee pleaded not guilty to all seven counts.
The EFCC also alleges that the defendant, alongside his company Eezee Global Concepts Limited, is culpable in the alleged foreign exchange malpractice and money laundering involving a total of $397,106. He was formally arraigned before Justice Aneke on Wednesday, following the reassignment of the case from Justice Owoeye of the same court.
As the legal battle unfolds, the case has been adjourned to June 20, 2025, for trial, with the gospel music community and the wider entertainment industry closely watching how events will develop.
