The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned gospel singer Mercy Chinwo’s former manager, Ezekiel Onyedikachukwu ThankGod, popularly known as EeZeeTee, for alleged money laundering and illegal foreign exchange transactions totaling $255,446.
He was arraigned alongside his company, EeZee Global Concepts Limited, on a seven-count amended charge before Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke of the Federal High Court in Lagos.
The charges primarily relate to engaging in unlicensed forex dealings and failing to report financial activities to relevant authorities, in violation of the Foreign Exchange (Monitoring and Miscellaneous Provisions) Act and the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act.
EFCC counsel Bilikisu Buhari-Bala told the court that Onyedikachukwu, not being a licensed foreign exchange dealer, conducted several dollar transactions, including a $52,895 deal with one Oladotun Olaobaju Mureke in June 2023.
Other allegations include unreported forex transactions with companies and individuals, as well as the non-disclosure of large dollar inflows—amounting to $255,446—into the company’s Zenith Bank account between 2022 and 2024.
The defendant pleaded not guilty to all charges.
EFCC requested his remand pending trial, citing a history of evading service and a subsisting arrest warrant. However, defence counsel Chikaosolu Ojukwu (SAN) argued for bail, citing his client’s cooperation and family health challenges, and urged the court to release him temporarily.
Ojukwu also informed the court of ongoing efforts to resolve the matter amicably out of court.
Justice Aneke adjourned ruling on the bail application to May 9, 2025, and ordered that the defendant be released to his lawyer in the interim.
A brief standoff occurred outside the courtroom as EFCC operatives attempted to rearrest the defendant, but the situation was defused and he was allowed to leave.
