The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned Nigerian music promoter Ezekiel Onyedikachukwu ThankGod, popularly known as Eezee Tee, over allegations of foreign exchange fraud and money laundering totaling $397,106.
The arraignment took place on Wednesday, May 7, 2025, at the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos, presided over by Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke. ThankGod, along with his company, Eezee Global Concepts Limited, is facing a seven-count amended charge bordering on illegal forex transactions and violations of Nigeria’s anti-money laundering laws.
Details of the Alleged Offences
According to the EFCC, the first charge involves an unauthorized foreign exchange deal in June 2023, where Eezee Tee allegedly negotiated a transaction worth $52,895 with a private individual, Oladotun Olaobaju Mureke. The commission argues that the transaction was carried out without approval from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), in violation of the Foreign Exchange Monitoring and Miscellaneous Provisions Act.
Another major charge concerns the alleged failure to declare financial activities to the Special Control Unit Against Money Laundering (SCUML). Between 2023 and 2024, a total sum of $137,383 was reportedly deposited into the company’s account at Zenith Bank without proper disclosure — a direct contravention of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
Plea and Court Proceedings
When the charges were read in court, the defendant pleaded not guilty.
EFCC counsel, Bilkisu Buhari-Bala, requested a trial date and urged the court to remand the defendant in a correctional facility, citing previous failures to comply with EFCC summons and administrative bail conditions. A 16-paragraph counter-affidavit was filed in support of the EFCC’s opposition to bail.
Defense counsel, Senior Advocate of Nigeria Chikaozolu Ojukwu, pleaded for bail on liberal terms and requested that the defendant be released into his custody pending the court’s ruling.
Justice Aneke adjourned the ruling on the bail application to May 9, 2025, and temporarily released the defendant to his counsel.
