Ezekiel Onyedikachukwu ThankGod, popularly known in the gospel music scene as Eezee Tee and known for managing renowned gospel singer Mercy Chinwo, has been arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on serious allegations of money laundering and foreign exchange violations totaling $397,106.
The Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 of the EFCC brought the refiled seven-count amended charge before Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke at the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos, on Wednesday, May 7, 2025. The charges were also leveled against his company, Eezee Global Concepts Limited.
The case, which originally commenced before Justice Owoeye, has now been reassigned to Justice Aneke for continuation. The accusations stem from alleged financial dealings that span across 2023 and 2024.
One of the charges reads:
“That you, Ezekiel Onyedikachukwu Thankgod and Eezee Global Concepts Limited, sometime in June 2023 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, not being an authorized buyer of foreign exchange currency appointed by the Central Bank of Nigeria under Section 5(1) of 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 and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 5 and 29(1)(c) of the Foreign Exchange Monitoring and Miscellaneous (Provisions) Act Cap F34 LFN 2004 and punishable under Section 29(2) of the same Act.”
Another count alleges:
“That you, Ezekiel Onyedikachuwu Thankgod and Eezee Global Concepts Limited, sometime in 2024 Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, failed to submit to the Special Control Unit Against Money Laundering a declaration of your activities of the said company within which period the total sum of $137,383 paid into Eezee Concepts Limited account number 5070522520 domiciled in Zenith Bank, and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Sections 6(1)(a),19(1)(f) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022 and punishable under Section 19(2)(b) of the same Act.”
When the charges were read, ThankGod pleaded “not guilty” to all counts.
Prosecuting counsel Bilkisu Buhari-Bala requested the court to fix a date for trial and moved for the defendant to be remanded in a correctional facility.
However, defence counsel, Senior Advocate of Nigeria Chikaozolu Ojukwu, appealed for bail on “the most liberal terms” and requested that the defendant remain in his custody pending trial.
In a counter move, Buhari-Bala informed the court that the EFCC had submitted a 16-paragraph counter-affidavit, signed by EFCC investigator Mohammed Adamu on March 4, 2025. She claimed the defendant had previously evaded service and failed to honor multiple EFCC invitations, despite having been granted administrative bail.
Citing these concerns, the prosecution urged the court not to grant the defence’s request.
Justice Aneke adjourned ruling on the bail application until Friday, May 9, 2025. In the meantime, the court granted a temporary concession, releasing the defendant into the custody of his lawyer.
The legal proceedings are set to continue as the Nigerian gospel community and entertainment industry watch closely.
