The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned Ezekiel Onyedikachukwu, also known as EeZeeTee and former manager of popular Nigerian gospel artist Mercy Chinwo, over alleged involvement in illegal foreign exchange transactions and money laundering amounting to $255,446.
Onyedikachukwu was arraigned alongside his company, EeZee Global Concepts Limited, before the Federal High Court in Lagos on a revised seven-count charge. The EFCC had earlier accused him of misappropriating funds allegedly belonging to Mercy Chinwo, though those charges have now shifted focus to foreign exchange violations and non-disclosure of financial activities.
According to EFCC prosecutor Bilikisu Buhari-Bala, Onyedikachukwu engaged in multiple foreign exchange transactions without authorization from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). One such transaction involved a sum of $52,895 with an individual named Oladotun Olaobaju Mureke in June 2023.
“This transaction is in violation of Sections 5 and 29(1)(c) of the Foreign Exchange (Monitoring and Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, Cap F34, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004,” she said.
Between 2022 and 2023, EeZeeTee allegedly received over $255,000 in the company’s Zenith Bank account while failing to report these earnings to the Special Control Unit Against Money Laundering (SCUML)—a statutory requirement under Nigerian financial laws.
The defendant pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Bail Arguments and Arrest Drama
After the plea, the prosecution requested his remand in a Nigerian Correctional Service facility. However, defence counsel Chikaosolu Ojukwu (SAN) informed the court that a bail application had already been filed and cited humanitarian reasons, stating Onyedikachukwu’s children were ill and needed his care.
Ojukwu urged the court to consider bail under lenient terms and offered to take custody of the defendant pending compliance with the conditions.
He also revealed that both parties were in active discussions to resolve the case out of court.
The EFCC, however, objected to the bail application, stating that the defendant had previously evaded service of the charges and that a valid arrest warrant was still active.
“My lord, this defendant has been evading service, and there is still a subsisting arrest warrant against him,” Buhari-Bala argued.
The defence countered, saying Onyedikachukwu had voluntarily appeared in court after being granted administrative bail by the EFCC and had never ignored any formal summons.
Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke adjourned ruling on the bail application to May 9, 2025, and temporarily released the defendant to his counsel.
A brief scene played out at the court’s entrance after proceedings, when EFCC operatives attempted to rearrest Onyedikachukwu. The situation was quickly defused, and the defendant was allowed to leave peacefully.
Full Breakdown of the EFCC Charges
The seven-count charge includes:
- Count 1–3: Unauthorized foreign exchange transactions with individuals and companies between 2021 and 2023 involving over $140,000, in violation of the Foreign Exchange Act.
- Count 4: Engaging in off-market forex transactions, contrary to the National Economic Intelligence Committee Act.
- Counts 5–7: Failing to report over $255,000 in company earnings to SCUML in 2022, 2023, and 2024, as mandated under the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.