A Lagos based business man, Ezekiel Onyedikachukwu ThankGod and Eezee Global Concepts Limited were today arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) before the Federal High Court, Ikoyi, Lagos.
Ezekiel ThankGod also known as ‘Eezee Tee’ and his company were arraigned before Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke, on an amended 7-count charge bordering on foreign exchange malpractice and money laundering to the tune of $397,106 USD.
The defendant was previously appeared before Justice Owoeye of the Federal High Court Ikoyi, but due to some fundamental issues, the matter was reassigned to Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke, for adjudication.
One of the charge 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 USD) with Mr. Oladotun Olaobaju Mureke and you thereby committed an offence contrary to sections 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 Thirty-Seven, Three Hundred and Eighty Three USD) 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 section 19 (2)(b) of the same Act.
He pleaded “not guilty” to the offence.
In view of his plea, the prosecution counsel Bilkisu Buhari-Bala prayed for a trial date and asked that the defendant be remanded in the correctional facility.
However, the defence counsel, Chikaozolu Ojukwu (SAN), informed the court of a summon for bail and prayed that his client be granted bail in the most liberal terms.
The lawyer also pleaded with the court that the defendant be released to him if bail is granted.
Buhari-Bala said “In response, the prosecution filed a 16 paragraph counter 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 all efforts to have him report himself at the EFCC office proved abortive.
She further opposed to the release of the defendant to his counsel, adding that the music promoter, who has been on administrative bail by the agency, had not been honouring its further invitations.
Justice Aneke adjourned ruling on bail to May 9, 2025 and released the defendant to his counsel pending the ruling of court.
