The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Eezee Tee

  • EeZee Tee marks 40 with gospel music empowerment forum

    EeZee Tee marks 40 with gospel music empowerment forum

    Gospel music executive and founder of EeZee Conceptz Global, Dr. Ezekiel Onyedikachi, better known as EeZee Tee, is set to mark his 40th birthday on October 1.

    It will feature an unconventional celebration that doubles as a movement for change in the gospel music industry.

    Instead of a lavish party, the man who has spent two decades shaping the careers of some of Nigeria’s biggest gospel acts is turning the milestone into what he calls a “volcano of wisdom” — a gathering that will focus on mentorship, knowledge-sharing, and empowerment.

    The event, tagged DrEeZee@40, will be held in Lagos and is split into two major sessions: a Music and Business Seminar from morning till late afternoon, and a Thanksgiving Dinner in the evening.

    For EeZee Tee, the choice was deliberate.

    “Instead of just eating rice and drinking wine, I thought to use this milestone as an opportunity to share knowledge, experiences, and insights from my 20-year journey,” he told reporters ahead of the celebration.

    The seminar will feature keynote addresses and panel discussions from leaders in music, ministry, and business.

    Conversations will range from entrepreneurship and personal development to monetising talents and building sustainable careers in the creative industry.

    Reflecting on his career, EeZee Tee said his journey from a child instrumentalist to the head of one of Africa’s most influential gospel record labels has been marked by “trials, triumphs, and divine grace.”

    “It’s been a journey of learning and unlearning, challenges and breakthroughs. I do not want those experiences to be wasted; I want to pour them into others so we can raise more giants in the ecosystem,” he noted.

    Read Also: EFCC arraigns Eezee Tee over $397,106 alleged forex fraud, money laundering

    Looking ahead, the gospel music influencer believes turning 40 represents the start of a new chapter.

    “We are trusting God for more revelations, new opportunities, and platforms to harness Christian talents while building stronger collaborations across industries,” he said.

    The event is expected to attract a select audience of gospel artists, entrepreneurs, ministers, and professionals. Attendance is exclusive, with a token registration fee pegged at ₦250,000 for early birds and ₦300,000 thereafter.

    EeZee Tee explained that the fee was not about commercialisation but about filtering for those who truly seek mentorship.

    “This meeting is not just an event; it is a volcano of wisdom compressed into one room within 12 hours,” he stressed.

  • EFCC arraigns Eezee Tee over $397,106 alleged forex fraud, money laundering

    EFCC arraigns Eezee Tee over $397,106 alleged forex fraud, money laundering

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned music promoter, Ezekiel Onyedikachukwu ThankGod, also known as Eezee Tee, and his company, Eezee Global Concepts Limited, for alleged foreign exchange malpractice and money laundering totalling $397,106.

    They were brought before Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke of the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos.

    According to EFCC, the charges include negotiating foreign exchange transactions without authorisation and failing to submit declarations of the company’s activities to the Special Control Unit Against Money Laundering.

    One of the counts reads: “That you, EZEKIEL ONYEDIKACHUWU THANKGOD and EEZEE GLOBAL CONCEPTS LIMITED, sometime in June 2023 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, not being an authorized buyer of foreign exchange currency appointed by the Central Bank of Nigeria under Section 5(1) of Foreign Exchange Monitoring and Miscellaneous (Provisions) Act CAP F34 LFN 2004 negotiated a foreign exchange transaction to wit: the naira equivalent of the sum of $52,895.00 (Fifty Two Thousand, Eight Hundred Ninety Five ) with Mr. Oladotun Olaobaju Mureke and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 5 and 29(1)(c) of the Foreign Exchange Monitoring and Miscellaneous (Provisions) Act Cap F34 LFN 2004 and punishable under Section 29(2) of the same Act.”

    Another count reads: “That you, EZEKIEL ONYEDIKACHUWU THANKGOD and EEZEE GLOBAL CONCEPTS LIMITED, sometime in 2024 Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, failed to submit to the Special Control Unit Against Money Laundering a declaration of your activities of the said company within which period the total sum of $137,383 (One Hundred and Thirty Seven Thousand, Three Hundred and Eighty Three United States Dollars) paid into EEZEE CONCEPTS LIMITED account number 5070522520 domiciled in Zenith Bank, and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Sections 6(1) (a),19(1)(f) of the Money Laundering(Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022 and punishable under Section19 (2)(b) of the same Act.”

    Eezee Tee pleaded not guilty to the charges.

    The prosecution counsel, Bilkisu Buhari-Bala, requested a trial date and asked the court to remand the defendant in a correctional centre, while the defence counsel sought bail in liberal terms.

    The defence counsel, Chikaozolu Ojukwu SAN, however, prayed that his client be granted bail “in the most liberal terms” and be released to him, if granted bail.

    Read Also: Eezeetee snubs journalists after court case

    Responding, Buhari-Bala told the court that “The prosecution filed a 16-paragraph affidavit, deposed to by Mohammed Adamu, an Investigator with the EFCC, on the 4th of March 2025, urging the court to refuse the prayers of the defence.”

    She argued that the defendant refused to accept service on several occasions and that all efforts to have him report himself at the EFCC office proved abortive.

    She, therefore, opposed the release of the defendant to his counsel, adding that the music promoter, who has been on an administrative bail granted him by the Commission, had not been honouring further invitations.

    The judge adjourned the ruling on the bail application until May 9, 2025, and released the defendant to his counsel.

  • EFCC vs. EeZee Tee: Court halts arraignment, adjourns case to May 14

    EFCC vs. EeZee Tee: Court halts arraignment, adjourns case to May 14

    The Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos has halted the arraignment of gospel music executive Ezekiel Onyedikachi, popularly known as EeZee Tee, in the case filed against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on behalf of Mercy Chinwo.

    During Thursday’s court session, the presiding judge Justice Alexander Owoeye stated that he could not proceed with the case due to an administrative procedure, leading to an adjournment until May 14, 2025.

    EeZee Tee was present in court as the proceedings unfolded.

    Read Also: You must appear before court to defend yourself – EFCC tells EezeeTee

    The case, which has drawn public interest, stems from financial and contractual disputes, but EeZee Tee has maintained his innocence, with his legal team expressing confidence in a favorable outcome.

    With the adjournment, all parties now await the next stage of proceedings.

    Details shortly…

  • ‘Dispute between EeZee Tee, Mercy Chinwo contractual, not criminal’

    ‘Dispute between EeZee Tee, Mercy Chinwo contractual, not criminal’

    A Christian youth advocacy group, the Nigerian Christian Youth Network (NCYN), has said the dispute between music producer Ezekiel Onyedikachi, popularly known as EeZee Tee, and gospel singer Mercy Chinwo, is strictly contractual.

    It faulted the involvement of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in the matter and urged the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) Prince Lateef Fagbemi (SAN) to intervene.

    In a statement by its National Coordinator, Michael Ekwere, the group appealed to the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) and notable Christian leaders to intervene, saying the dispute is unhealthy for the Christian music industry.

    The group noted that, from its findings, the issue between EeZee Tee and Mercy Chinwo is not within EFCC’s mandate.

    It, however, expressed dismay that the commission would give serious attention to a dispute between a gospel artist and her label company due to personal interest.

    The statement reads: “As a faith-based organisation, we are concerned with the current dispute between EeZee Tee and Mercy Chinwo because they are our brethren in the faith.

    Read Also: Saudi Embassy delivers 100 tons of date to Nigeria

    “We have carefully examined the issue, which has generated much uproar in the Christian and secular communities, and concluded that it is purely a contractual dispute.

    “On the one hand, Mercy Chinwo is alleging that her legitimate earnings are being withheld byEeZee Tee Concept, owned by EeZee Tee.

    “On the other hand, the record label is also demanding an unbiased account reconciliation, claiming that Mercy Chinwo failed to remit the company’s share from her public engagements.

    “Clearly, this is a simple contractual dispute that either party can seek to resolve in a civil court.

    “We are, however, worried that the EFCC has now become a tool in the hands of one party to intimidate and harass the other.

    “From our findings, acting on a petition, the EFCC, without any valid court order, last year froze the domiciliary account of EeZee Tee, detained him in Ilorin, Kwara State, for nine days, and further compelled him to pay Mercy Chinwo $274,000.

    “When EeZee Tee challenged his illegal detention through a fundamental rights enforcement suit against the EFCC, the commission quickly ran to another court to obtain an arrest warrant against him.

    “In a three-count charge now before the Federal High Court, Lagos, the EFCC is accusing EeZee Tee of ‘fraudulent conversion’ of the legitimate earnings of Chinwo and another artist, Judikay.

    “From what is ongoing, it is clear that the EFCC is acting on a script, either for personal or pecuniary interest, and we urge the commission’s chairman to call his officers to order.

    “We see no reason why the commission would allow itself to be used as a tool to harass, intimidate, and embarrass someone in a clear civil dispute.

    “We call on the AGF, Chief Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, to look into this case and many other similar cases for which the EFCC has been accused of pursuing merely to embarrass and intimidate respectable Nigerians.

    “We also use this medium to appeal to the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) and Christian leaders to look into the matter, which we believe is unhealthy for the Christian music industry.”

  • Eezee Tee claims Mercy Chinwo sought deal through third parties

    Eezee Tee claims Mercy Chinwo sought deal through third parties

    Gospel music executive Ezekiel Thankgod aka EeZee Tee, has claimed that singer Mercy Chinwo actively sought to be signed to his record label, EeZee Conceptz, before their eventual contractal agreement.

    In a statement released recently, EeZee Tee’s team stated that Mercy Chinwo made deliberate efforts to secure a deal with the label, enlisting the help of several individuals to facilitate the process.

    “Mercy Chinwo personally went around Port Harcourt soliciting people’s assistance to get signed to EeZee Conceptz. Some of such people include K.O Baba, Hilda Dokubo, and Pastor Temple Odoko, who prevailed on EeZee Tee to facilitate the deal,” the legal representatives stated.

    The legal team further alleged that while under contract, Mercy Chinwo directed booking revenues into her personal account instead of remitting them to the label.

    Read Also: Mercy Chinwo’s team addresses controversy with former manager

    “Mercy Chinwo diverted booking revenues into her personal account while still under contract with EeZee Conceptz,” they claimed.

    Additionally, they raised concerns over Mercy Chinwo’s decision to involve the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in the dispute. The legal team questioned why the matter, which they believe is a contractual disagreement, was taken to the EFCC’s Ilorin Command instead of being resolved through civil legal channels.

    The statement also referenced an alleged financial transaction, stating that EeZee Tee transferred $274,000 to Mercy Chinwo’s account during the period of the dispute.