The EFCC has arraigned popular gospel music promoter, Ezekiel Onyedikachukwu ThankGod, aka Eezee Tee, alongside his company, Eezee Global Concepts Limited, before a Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos, over alleged foreign exchange malpractice and money laundering offences totalling $397,106.
Eezee Tee and his company were brought before Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke on multiple counts bordering on unlawful foreign exchange dealings and failure to comply with statutory anti-money laundering regulations.
According to the EFCC, one of the charges involved negotiating a forex transaction amounting to $52,895 in June 2023 without authorisation from the Central Bank of Nigeria, an act contrary to Section 5 and 29(1)(c) of the Foreign Exchange Monitoring and Miscellaneous (Provisions) Act.Travel blogs
Another charge accused the defendants of failing to declare their financial activities to the Special Control Unit Against Money Laundering (SCUML), despite receiving $137,383 into a company account in 2024, a violation of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
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In March, Eezee Concept suddenly ran out of the premises while journalists were attempting to capture him.
The scene occurred after Alexander Owoeye, a judge of the federal high court in Lagos, adjourned Eezee Tee’s arraignment to May 14 due to ongoing administrative processes.
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As the music executive emerged from the courtroom, journalists had positioned themselves to record videos and take snapshots of him.
However, Eezee Concept took to his heels and ran out of the court, with the media personnel in hot pursuit, trying to capture his dramatic exit.
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The record label owner, whose real name is Ezekiel Onyedikachukwu, was arraigned over alleged money laundering and dishonest conversion.
He was accused by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) of laundering $340,000 and dishonestly converting funds from Chinwo’s digital platforms and events.
During the court session, Bilikisu Buhari, the prosecutor, and the defence counsel, Chikaosolu Ojukwu informed the court that they were ready to proceed with the arraignment.
The judge, however, informed both parties that he would not be able to take the arraignment as scheduled due to an ongoing administrative process in the case.
Chinwo had also accused Ezee Tee of secretly replacing the original contract she signed in 2017 with a different one without her consent.
