May 07, (THEWILL) – The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned a music promoter, Ezekiel Onyedikachukwu ThankGod, popularly known as Eezee Tee, alongside his company, Eezee Global Concepts Limited, before the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos, over alleged foreign exchange malpractice and money laundering involving the sum of $397,106.
ThankGod and his firm were brought before Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke on Wednesday on an amended seven-count charge bordering on forex violations and breach of anti-money laundering laws.
The EFCC alleged that the defendant illegally negotiated forex transactions and failed to properly declare company activities as required by law.
One of the charges reads: “That you, EZEKIEL ONYEDIKACHUKWU THANKGOD and EEZEE GLOBAL CONCEPTS LIMITED, sometime in June 2023 in Lagos, not being authorised forex dealers licensed by the Central Bank of Nigeria, negotiated a forex transaction involving the naira equivalent of $52,895 with one Mr. Oladotun Olaobaju Mureke, contrary to Section 5 and 29(1)(c) of the Foreign Exchange Monitoring and Miscellaneous (Provisions) Act.”
Another charge accused the defendants of failing to submit a declaration of business activities to the Special Control Unit Against Money Laundering (SCUML), despite receiving $137,383 into the company’s Zenith Bank account, thereby violating Sections 6(1)(a) and 19(1)(f) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
ThankGod pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Prosecuting counsel, Bilkisu Buhari-Bala, requested a trial date and asked the court to remand the defendant in a correctional facility. However, defence counsel, Chikaozolu Ojukwu, SAN, urged the court to grant bail in liberal terms and release his client to his custody.
Opposing the bail application, Buhari-Bala told the court that the EFCC had filed a 16-paragraph counter-affidavit, stating that the defendant had repeatedly ignored invitations and refused to accept service.
She argued that the music promoter, previously granted administrative bail by the Commission, had failed to honour subsequent obligations.
Justice Aneke adjourned ruling on the bail application to May 9, 2025, and temporarily released the defendant to his counsel.
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