Ezekiel Onyedikachi VS Mercy Chinwo: Case Adjourned To May 14
The arraignment of Ezekiel Onyedikachi (A.K.A. EzeeTee), the former manager to gospel singer Mercy Chinwo, over the alleged conversion of $840,477 before the Federal High Court in Lagos was on Thursday stalled due to administrative procedure.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission had filed a 10-count amended charge bordering on conversion and money laundering preferred against him by the anti-graft agency.
When the charge marked FHC/L/578C/2025 was called, the EFCC’s counsel, Bilikisu Buhari, announced her appearance for the prosecution, while Chikaosolu Ojukwu (SAN), along with Dr Monday Ubani (SAN), announced for the defendant.
However, the presiding judge, Justice Alexander Owoeye, stopped the hearing of the charge filed over what he described as an ‘administrative’ procedure. The EFCC had initially filed a four-count charge against Onyedikachi over the alleged fraudulent conversion of $345,000.
Onyedikachi, who had been absent at the last court hearing, was, however, present in court for his arraignment on Thursday. After the parties announced their appearances, Justice Owoeye informed them that there was an ongoing administrative procedure in respect of the matter and that he would not be able to make any pronouncement in the case.
The EFCC had initially filed a four-count charge against Onyedikachi over the alleged fraudulent conversion of $345,000. Onyedikachi, who had been absent at the last court hearing, was, however, present in court for his arraignment on Thursday.
After the parties announced their appearances, Justice Owoeye informed them that there was an ongoing administrative procedure in respect of the matter and that he would not be able to make any pronouncement in the case.
“There is an administrative procedure going on in this case, and until it is completed, I cannot make any pronouncement on it,” he said. The judge also declined to grant the request by Ojukwu that the parties should maintain the status quo pending the completion of the administrative procedure.
Meanwhile, a mild drama unfolded in court on Thursday after the defendant emerged from the courtroom.
Journalists in the electronic media had positioned their cameras to record videos of the parties leaving the court premises; however, he suddenly took to his heels and ran out of the court while the journalists were seen taking snapshots of him as he ran.
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The case was adjourned till May 14, 2025. In the fresh 10 counts, the EFCC alleged that Onyedikachi, sometime in 2023, directly retained the sum of $260,494 in the Eezee Global Ministry account, which he ought to have known formed part of the proceeds of unlawful activity.
The commission said he dishonestly converted the said sum property of Mercy Chinwo and Judith Kanayo.
He was also accused of directly retaining the sum of $112,985 and $69,892, which he ought to have known formed part of the proceeds of his unlawful activity, and dishonest conversion of the said sum, property of Mercy Chinwo and Judith Kanayo.
The anti-graft agency alleged that Onyedikachi, who is not an authorised buyer of foreign exchange currency appointed by the Central Bank of Nigeria, negotiated a foreign exchange transaction to the naira equivalent to the sum of $52,895 with Mr Oladotun Mureke.
He was further accused of negotiating a foreign exchange transaction to the naira equivalent of $70,000 with the Avalan Chetrase13 07 company. The EFCC said that sometime in 2022, he also negotiated a foreign exchange transaction to the naira equivalent of $18,775 with Gift Christopher.
“In October 2022, the defendant and his company engaged in a foreign exchange transaction other than through the official foreign exchange market.”
The anti-graft agency said the defendant failed to submit to the special control unit against money laundering a declaration of his activities in the company, within which period the sum of $65,703 was paid into the Eezee Concept Limited company account.
The commission said that sometime between 2023 and 2024, the defendant failed to submit to the special control unit against money laundering a declaration of his activities in the company, within which period the sums of $52,350 and $137,383 were paid into the Eezee Concept Limited company account.
SOURCE: https://punchng.com/
Content Credit| Agbetan Bisola
Picture Credit | https://dailypost.ng/
