The popular Nigerian gospel music promoter, founder and CEO of Eezee Global Concepts Limited, Ezekiel Onyedikachukwu ThankGod, is famously known as Eezee Tee and for being Mercy Chinwo’s ex-manager, has been arraigned by Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, for allegedly laundering over $397,106 through foreign exchange.
Eezee Tee was arraigned on Wednesday, 7 May 2025, before Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke at the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos. The music magnet and his company, Eezee Global Concepts Limited, are facing a seven-count charge that pertains to foreign exchange violations.
The case, which was initially handled by Justice Owoeye of the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, is now reassigned to Justice Aneke for further proceedings.
One of the charges alleged that Mr Eezee Tee “negotiated a foreign exchange transaction to wit: the naira equivalent of the sum of $52,895 with Mr Oladotun Olaobaju Mureke” sometime in June 2023, whereas he is not an authorised buyer of the foreign currencies that is recognized by the Central Bank of Nigeria, thereby, going contrary to contrary to “Section 5 and 29(1)(c) of the Foreign Exchange Monitoring and Miscellaneous (Provisions) Act Cap F34 LFN 2004 and punishable under Section 29(2) of the same Act.”
Additionally, Eezee Tee allegedly failed to submit the declaration of his company’s activities to the Special Control Unit Against Money Laundering, within a stipulated time in 2024, During the specified period, a total sum of $137,383 was deposited into the account of Eezee Concepts Limited, account number 5070522520, which is held at Zenith Bank. This action constitutes an offence under Sections 6(1)(a) and 19(1)(f) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, and is punishable according to Section 19(2)(b) of the same Act.
Eezee Tee, the defendant, pleaded not guilty to all the allegations levelled against him. The prosecuting counsel, Bilkisu Buhari-Bala, pleaded that the defendant be remanded in a correctional centre pending to await the day that the honourable court would sit for his trial.
The defence counsel, Chikaozolu Ojukwu, SAN, however, urged the court to grant his client bail under “the most liberal terms” and to allow him to stay in custody while awaiting trial.
Justice Aneke adjourned ruling on the bail application until 9 May 2025 and, in the interim, released the defendant into the custody of his lawyer.
