The former manager of gospel singer Mercy Chinwo, Ezekiel Onyedikachukwu, also popularly known as ThankGod or EeZeeTee, has been granted bail by the Federal High Court in Lagos in the sum of ₦20 million over allegations of a $397,106 foreign exchange fraud.
Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke, who presided over the case on Friday, ruled that the bail must be secured with one surety who resides in Lagos and owns property of equal value.
EeZeeTee has been given 72 hours to fulfil the bail conditions. In the interim, he was released to the custody of his lawyer, Mr. Ojukwu Chikaosolu.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had initially filed 14 counts of fraudulent conversion against him. However, the charges were later amended to seven counts, accusing him of conducting unlicensed foreign exchange transactions.
Prosecuting counsel, Bilikisu Buhari-Bala, stated, “In June 2023, the defendant, without authorisation from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), negotiated a foreign exchange transaction worth $52,895 with one Mr Oladotun Olaobaju Mureke.”
The prosecution stated that the alleged offence contravenes 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 is punishable under Section 29(2) of the same Act.
READ MORE: Abuja Magistrate Court Orders Arrest of VeryDarkMan for Defamation of Gospel Singer Mercy Chinwo
EeZeeTee pleaded not guilty to the amended charges.
Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke adjourned the case to June 20, 2025, for trial.
Follow Parallel Facts on WhatsApp Channel: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaCQSAoHgZWiDjR3Kn2E
