The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Lagos Zonal Directorate 1, has arraigned music promoter Ezekiel Onyedikachukwu ThankGod, popularly known as Eezee Tee, before Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke at the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos.
The music promoter who is also the former manager of gospel artiste, Mercy Chinwo, along with his company, Eezee Global Concepts Limited, is facing trial on an amended seven-count charge involving alleged foreign exchange violations and money laundering amounting to $397,106 (Three Hundred and Ninety-Seven Thousand, One Hundred and Six U.S. Dollars).
According to a statement on the EFCC’s X handle, the defendant and his company, Eezee Global Concepts Limited, engaged in foreign exchange transactions totaling $141,670 with various individuals, despite not being authorised by the Central Bank of Nigeria to deal in forex.
The charges brought against the defendant are reportedly in violation of Sections 5 and 29(1)(c) of the Foreign Exchange Monitoring and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, Cap F34, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, and are punishable under Section 29(2) of the same legislation.
He however pleaded not guilty to the charges against him.
The EFCC’s statement reads in part: “The Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Wednesday, May 7, 2025, arraigned a music promoter, Ezekiel Onyedikachukwu ThankGod, (a.k.a Eezee Tee) before Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos
“ThankGod, alongside his company, Eezee Global Concepts Limited, is standing trial on an amended seven-count charge bordering on alleged foreign exchange malpractice and money laundering to the tune of $397,106( Three Hundred and Ninety Seven, One Hundred and Six United States Dollars).
“The defendant was previously standing trial before Justice Owoeye of the Federal High Court Ikoyi before the matter was reassigned to Justice Aneke.
“He pleaded ‘not guilty’ to the charges when they were read to him.
“In view of his plea, prosecution counsel, Bilkisu Buhari-Bala, prayed for a trial date and also asked that the defendant be remanded in a Correctional Centre.
“The defence counsel, Chikaozolu Ojukwu SAN, however, prayed that his client be granted bail “in the most liberal terms” and be released to him, if granted bail.
“Responding, Buhari-Bala told the court that “The prosecution filed a 16-paragraph-counter affidavit, deposed to by Mohammed Adamu, an Investigator with the EFCC, on the 4th of March 2025, urging the court to refuse the prayers of the defence.”
“She argued that the defendant refused to accept service on several occasions and that all efforts to have him report himself at the EFCC office proved abortive.
“She , therefore, opposed the release of the defendant to his counsel, adding that the music promoter, who has been on an administrative bail granted him by the Commission, had not been honouring further invitations.
“Justice Aneke adjourned ruling on the bail application till May 9, 2025 and released the defendant to his counsel.”
Source: X | officialEFCC