Gospel Singer Mercy Chinwo’s Ex-Manager EeZeeTee Granted ₦20m Bail Over Alleged $397,106 Forex Fraud
Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke, who presided over the case, ruled on Friday that the bail must be secured with one surety who resides in Lagos and owns property of equal value.
Former manager of gospel artist Mercy Chinwo, Ezekiel Onyedikachukwu, popularly known as ThankGod or EeZeeTee, has been granted bail by the Federal High Court in Lagos in the sum of N20 million over allegations of a $397,106 foreign exchange transaction fraud.
Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke, who presided over the case, ruled on Friday that the bail must be secured with one surety who resides in Lagos and owns property of equal value.
The court gave EeZeeTee 72 hours to meet the condition, following his earlier release to his lawyer, Mr Ojukwu Chikaosolu.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) initially charged EeZeeTee with 14 counts of fraudulent conversion but later amended the charges to seven counts, accusing him of engaging in unlicensed foreign exchange transactions.
Prosecuting counsel, Bilikisu Buhari-Bala, stated, “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.”Travel guides
She noted that this act violates 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.
EeZeeTee pleaded not guilty to the amended charges.
Travel guides
The case has been adjourned to 20 June 2025 for trial.
On Wednesday, the EFCC arraigned the music promoter before Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos
According to EFCC, ThankGod, along with his company, Eezee Global Concepts Limited, is standing trial on an amended seven-count charge bordering on alleged foreign exchange malpractice and money laundering, amounting to $397,106.
The defendant was previously standing trial before Justice Owoeye of the Federal High Court in Ikoyi before the matter was reassigned to Justice Aneke.
One of the counts reads: “That you, EZEKIEL ONYEDIKACHUWU THANKGOD and EEZEE GLOBAL CONCEPTS LIMITED, sometime in June 2023 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, not being an authorised 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 $52,895.00 (Fifty Two Thousand, Eight Hundred Ninety Five ) 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.”Travel guides
Another count reads: “That you, EZEKIEL ONYEDIKACHUWU THANKGOD and EEZEE GLOBAL CONCEPTS LIMITED, sometime in 2024 Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court 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 (One Hundred and Thirty Seven Thousand, Three Hundred and Eighty Three United States Dollars) 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 Section19 (2)(b) of the same Act.”
He pleaded “not guilty” to the charges when they were read to him.
About The Author
