The Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has granted bail to Ezekiel Onyedikachukwu, popularly known as EeZee Tee, the former manager of renowned gospel artiste Mercy Chinwo, amid ongoing allegations of money laundering and illegal foreign exchange dealings.
Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke, delivering his ruling on Friday, approved bail for Onyedikachukwu in the sum of ₦20 million. The court also directed that the defendant must provide one surety, who must be a Lagos resident and possess property valued at the bail amount. The court further gave the defendant 72 hours to fulfill the bail conditions.
The case, which has drawn public attention due to EeZee Tee’s affiliation with Mercy Chinwo and the gospel music industry, is scheduled to resume on June 20, 2025 for trial proceedings.
At the previous hearing on Wednesday, May 6, Justice Aneke temporarily released the defendant into the custody of his legal counsel, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Chikaosolu Ojukwu.
EeZee Tee is currently facing trial on seven counts of alleged financial crimes, following an amended charge by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The initial 14-count charge was reduced, with accusations now centered on money laundering amounting to $255,446 and unauthorized foreign exchange transactions.
Prosecuting counsel, Bilikisu Buhari-Bala, informed the court that in June 2023, the defendant allegedly negotiated a foreign exchange transaction worth $52,895 with one Oladotun Olaobaju Mureke without obtaining the necessary authorisation from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) — a violation of the Foreign Exchange (Monitoring and Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, Cap F34, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
Onyedikachukwu pleaded not guilty to all charges.
The high-profile case continues to generate interest within Nigeria’s entertainment and legal circles, given the prominence of both the accused and his former client, Mercy Chinwo, a celebrated figure in the Nigerian gospel music scene.
