Mercy Chinwo’s ex-manager arraigned for $397,106 ‘fraud’
Mercy Chinwo’s ex-manager arraigned for $397,106 ‘fraud’
The former manager of Mercy Chinwo, Ezekiel Onyedikachi ThankGod, popularly called EeZee Tee has been arraigned in connection with alleged fraud of $397,106 at a Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos.
The defendant pleaded not guilty to the seven-count charge before Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke.
According to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), in counts one to three, the defendant and his company, Eezee Global Concept Ltd, between 2021 and 2023, were not authorised buyer of foreign exchange currency appointed by the Central Bank of Nigeria negotiated forex transactions totalling $141,670 with certain persons at various intervals.
The alleged offences are said to be contrary to sections 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.
The EFCC also alleged in count four that sometime in October 2022 within the jurisdiction of the court, both defendants engaged in a foreign exchange transaction other than through the official foreign exchange market, an offence contrary to section 11(1)(a) of the National Economic Intelligence Committee Establishment, (ETC) Act, 1994 and punishable under section 11(2) of the same Act.
He is also accused in counts 5, 6 and 7 of failing to submit to the Special Control Unit Against Money Laundering a declaration of his company’s activities between 2022 and 2024, within which period the total sum of $255,436 was paid into his firm’s bank account.
The offences are said to be 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.
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After his arraignment, his bail application was argued led by the defence counsel, Chikaosolu Ojukwu (SAN), who told the judge there have been a series of settlement talks with the defendant, the EFCC and the nominal complainant, Mercy Chinwo.
He added that the dispute is contractual in nature.
The defence counsel prayed the court that the first defendant be released to his custody pending the fulfillment of his bail conditions.
But, this was opposed by the EFCC Counsel, Bilikisu Buhari-Bala, she argued that the music promoter, who has been on administrative bail by the agency, had not been honouring its further invitations.
Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke adjourned the bail application ruling to Friday May 9, 2025 and released the defendant to his counsel, to be produced in court by the next date.
