Court schedule February 14 for arraignment of Mercy Chinwo’s ex-manager over alleged $345,000 fraud

A Federal High Court in Lagos, presided over by Justice Alexander Owoeye, has scheduled February 14, 2025, for the arraignment of Ezekiel Thankgod, the former manager of gospel singer Mercy Chinwo, on allegations of $345,000 fraud.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) accused Ezekiel of diverting royalties from Chinwo’s digital platforms and events. EFCC counsel, Bilikisu Buhari, alleged that Ezekiel misappropriated funds by failing to remit Chinwo’s share of the earnings.

At the court session on Friday, Ezekiel’s counsel, Monday Ubani (SAN) challenged the charges, arguing that the matter was contractual rather than criminal. Ubani informed the court that Ezekiel had filed a fundamental rights enforcement suit against the EFCC to halt his arrest and had also raised a preliminary objection to the charges.

Ubani further urged the court to vacate the arrest warrant issued against his client, asserting that Ezekiel had not been served with the charges. In response, the EFCC counsel stated that the commission had been unable to execute the arrest warrant but requested permission to serve the charges in open court.

Ubani accepted the charges on behalf of his client and requested a hearing date for the preliminary objection.

Justice Owoeye, after hearing arguments from both sides, adjourned the case to February 14, 2025, for the arraignment and consideration of the pending applications.