Justice Alexander Owoeye of the Federal High Court in Lagos has set February 14, 2025, for the potential arraignment of Ezekiel Thankgod, former manager of Nigerian gospel singer Mercy Chinwo, on charges of $345,000 fraud.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) initiated legal action on January 16, 2025, accusing Ezekiel of financial mismanagement. He is alleged to have diverted royalties from Chinwo’s digital platforms and events, failing to remit her share of the earnings.
EFCC counsel Bilikisu Buhari outlined that Ezekiel had diverted funds, but during Friday’s court proceedings, his defense counsel, Monday Ubani, SAN, challenged the arrest warrant, arguing that the matter was contractual rather than criminal. Ubani also revealed that Ezekiel had filed a fundamental rights enforcement suit in another court to block his arrest and lodged a preliminary objection against the charges.
Buhari informed the court that the EFCC had struggled to effect the arrest and requested permission to serve the charges on Ezekiel’s lawyer in open court, as Ubani had agreed to accept them on his client’s behalf.
Justice Owoeye acknowledged the receipt of the charges and the preliminary objection raised by the defense. After hearing arguments, the court adjourned the case to February 14, 2025, for a possible arraignment and to address any pending applications.
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