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Ezekiel Onyedikachukwu ThankGod, popularly known in the gospel music industry as Eezee Tee, appeared in court on Wednesday, May 7, 2025, to face fresh criminal charges brought by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The arraignment took place before Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke of the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos.
Eezee Tee, a former label boss to gospel star Mercy Chinwo, is being prosecuted alongside his company, Eezee Global Concepts Limited. He is accused of engaging in illegal foreign exchange dealings and failing to comply with anti-money laundering regulations. The EFCC filed a seven-count amended charge, alleging that the total amount involved in the infractions is approximately $397,106.
The matter was previously before Justice Owoeye but was reassigned to Justice Aneke for continuation.
According to one of the charges, Eezee Tee and his firm allegedly conducted an unauthorized currency exchange transaction in June 2023, involving the naira equivalent of $52,895, despite not being licensed by the Central Bank of Nigeria to deal in foreign exchange.
Another charge states that the defendants failed to report their financial activities to the Special Control Unit Against Money Laundering during a period in 2024 when $137,383 was paid into the company’s bank account.
Eezee Tee pleaded not guilty to all the allegations.
Following his plea, the EFCC’s counsel, Bilkisu Buhari-Bala, urged the court to remand him in custody and fix a trial date. She also informed the court that the defendant had previously ignored several invitations from the commission and had attempted to evade legal service.
However, defense lawyer Chikaozolu Ojukwu, SAN, appealed to the judge to grant bail on lenient terms and allow the defendant to remain under his legal supervision pending the trial.
Justice Aneke reserved a decision on the bail application until May 9, 2025, and temporarily released the defendant into the custody of his lawyer.
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