The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arraigned Ezekiel Onyedikachukwu, also known as EeZee Tee, and his company, EeZee Global Concepts Limited, before Justice Alexander Owoeye at the Federal High Court in Lagos.
The charges, filed by the EFCC’s Lagos Zonal Directorate, include three counts of money laundering involving $255,446 and unauthorized foreign exchange transactions worth $71,670, violating Nigeria’s Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022. The case stems from a petition by gospel singer Mercy Chinwo, who accused her former manager of diverting royalties from her digital platforms and event earnings, though earlier fraud allegations tied to $340,000-$345,000 were excluded from the final charges.
One count alleges that Onyedikachukwu retained $255,446 in EeZee Global Ministry’s Zenith Bank account in 2023, knowing it was proceeds of unlawful activity, specifically dishonest conversion of funds belonging to Chinwo and Judith Kanayo. Another count accuses him of conducting unauthorized forex dealings, bypassing Central Bank of Nigeria regulations. Onyedikachukwu pleaded not guilty, and his counsel, Chikaosolu Ojukwu, filed a bail application, which the EFCC opposed, citing his history of evading arraignment. The court adjourned to May 14, 2025, for a bail hearing and trial commencement, remanding Onyedikachukwu in custody.
The case has a complex history. The EFCC secured an arrest warrant on January 16, 2025, after Onyedikachukwu failed to appear, but withdrew it on January 24 following his cooperation. A March 6 arraignment was stalled by an administrative issue, reportedly a petition by Onyedikachukwu accusing the judge of bias. The defense argues the dispute is contractual, not criminal, highlighting tensions with Chinwo since their professional split in 2023. The EFCC’s focus on money laundering reflects Nigeria’s crackdown on illicit financial flows, with 30 high-profile arraignments since 2002, though convictions remain low due to judicial delays.