The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has brought fresh charges against Nigerian gospel music executive Ezekiel Onyedikachi, popularly known as EeZeeTee, focusing on foreign exchange violations and regulatory non-compliance.
The EFCC arraigned Mr Onyedikachi, who is the Chief Executive Officer of EeZee Global Concept Ltd, before the Federal High Court in Lagos on Wednesday.
He was previously accused of the misappropriation of an artist Mercy Chinwo’s earnings, but those allegations were not pursued in the amended seven-count charge filed by the anti-graft agency.
Instead, prosecutors now allege that the defendant engaged in unauthorised foreign exchange transactions and failed to report his company’s financial activities to Nigeria’s Special Control Unit Against Money Laundering (SCUML) between 2022 and 2023.
According to court filings, the company received international inflows totalling over $255,000 during that period.
One of the charges specifically alleges that Mr Onyedikachi, in June 2023, conducted a foreign exchange deal involving the naira equivalent of $52,895 with an individual named Oladotun Olaobaju Mureke, without the authorisation of the Central Bank of Nigeria.
A second transaction, valued at $18,775, is also under scrutiny. Prosecutors say it was conducted with one Gift Ugochi Christopher, again outside official foreign exchange channels recognised by the central bank.
Mr Onyedikachi pleaded not guilty to all charges.
His counsel, Chief Chikaosolu Ojukwu, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, told the court that a bail application had been filed and served on the EFCC.
He requested that the defendant be granted bail on liberal terms, citing ongoing discussions aimed at reaching an amicable resolution to the matter.
However, EFCC counsel Bilikisu Buhari opposed the application, asking the court to remand the defendant in custody until a decision on bail is made.
Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke questioned how the defendant had come before the court. The EFCC claimed an arrest warrant had been issued, but the defence countered that Mr Onyedikachi had been granted administrative bail and appeared voluntarily.
The judge adjourned the case until 9 May for a ruling on the bail application. In the interim, Mr Onyedikachi was released into the custody of his lawyer.
Tensions briefly escalated outside the courthouse when EFCC operatives attempted to rearrest the defendant as he made to leave the court in his vehicle. The situation was defused following the intervention of a senior official from the agency.
The case has now shifted from initial allegations of fraud to questions around compliance with Nigeria’s foreign exchange regulations and anti-money laundering laws.
The EFCC has not made any public statements regarding separate allegations recently linked to gospel artist Mercy Chinwo, which had attracted public attention prior to the amended charges.
