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In a dramatic turn of events, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has removed gospel singer Mercy Chinwo’s name from its amended charges against gospel music executive Ezekiel Onyedikachi, popularly known as EeZeeTee.
The EFCC had initially accused EeZeeTee, CEO of EeZee Global Concept Ltd, of fraudulently converting Chinwo’s earnings.
However, during proceedings on Wednesday at the Federal High Court in Lagos, the commission filed a fresh eight-count charge, shifting focus to alleged breaches of financial regulations.
The amended charges accuse EeZeeTee of failing to disclose the company’s financial transactions and engaging in unauthorised foreign exchange deals between 2022 and 2023.
According to the EFCC, the company received $255,436 during that period without making proper disclosures to the Special Control Unit Against Money Laundering.
The commission held that Onyedikachi and EeZee Global Concept Ltd, sometime in June 2023 in Lagos, while not being an authorised buyer of foreign currency appointed by the Central Bank of Nigeria, negotiated a foreign exchange transaction to the naira equivalent of the sum of $52,895 with Mr. Oladotun Mureke.
EFCC also alleged that EeZeeTee engaged in another foreign exchange transaction worth $18,775 with one Gift Ugochi Christopher, bypassing the official foreign exchange market.
EeZeeTee pleaded not guilty to all counts.
The defendant’s counsel, Chikaosolu Ojukwu (SAN), informed the court that a bail application had already been filed and served on the EFCC.
He urged the court to grant bail on liberal terms, revealing that both parties were exploring an out-of-court settlement.
However, EFCC’s counsel, Bilikisu Buhari, opposed the bail request and asked the court to remand the defendant until a ruling on the bail application is delivered.
Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke, who presided over the matter, sought clarification on how the defendant came to court.
While the EFCC claimed an arrest warrant had been issued, Ojukwu argued that his client had been granted administrative bail and voluntarily appeared in court.
He also noted that there was no record of any ignored EFCC invitation.
Justice Aneke adjourned the ruling on the bail application to May 9, 2025, and ordered that EeZeeTee be released to his counsel in the meantime.
Drama unfolded outside the courtroom as EFCC operatives attempted to re-arrest EeZeeTee at the court’s gate.
The situation was defused following the intervention of a senior EFCC official, allowing the defendant to leave the premises without incident.
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