Chinwo and Onyedikachukwu
Kindly share:
Gospel music label EeZee Conceptz has rubbished allegations of fraud amounting to $345,000, which popular gospel artist, Mercy Chinwo, made against its CEO, Ezekiel Onyedikachukwu, popularly known as EeZee Tee.
Consequently, Justice Alexander Owoeye approved an order, following a motion filed by the EFCC, which sought the manager’s arrest to compel his appearance in court to answer charges related to the alleged crime.Mrs. Bilikisu Buhari, representing the EFCC, informed the court that the application was made under Section 35(1)(c) of the 1999 Constitution and Sections 35, 36, 37, 38, and 39 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015. The application aimed to secure the manager’s appearance in court in relation to allegations of financial misconduct.
Buhari further stated that if the manager could not be located for arrest, the EFCC would initiate a public summons to declare him wanted.
The court granted the application and adjourned the case until January 24 for the manager’s arraignment.
In the affidavit supporting the application, EFCC investigator Michael Idoko revealed that the commission received a petition from Mercy Chinwo, in which she accused her manager of diverting $345,000 in royalties.
The singer alleged that Onyedikachukwu had been receiving royalties from her digital platforms and events without proper disclosure and had diverted the funds, failing to remit her rightful share.
The EFCC stated that despite efforts to arrest the manager, their attempts had been unsuccessful, prompting the request for an arrest warrant. The court proceedings will continue with the arraignment scheduled for January 24.
However, the label firmly denies these claims and has clarified its position regarding the ongoing contractual dispute with the artist.
In a statement released to Tribune Online, EeZee Conceptz addressed the allegations made by Mercy Chinwo, which include claims of fraudulent diversion of funds and failure to disclose earnings. Chinwo accused her former label boss of diverting $345,000 in royalties generated from digital platforms and events without sharing her portion, in addition to accusations of breach of trust and evasion of arrest.
In response, EeZee Conceptz stated that Mercy Chinwo has received over $625,000 in earnings since signing a 50/50 gross revenue-sharing agreement, which the label asserts has been honoured transparently.
The label further alleged that the current dispute arises from breaches of contract by Chinwo, including her failure to deliver a third studio album as mandated by their agreement and withholding funds from events, royalties, and digital content that were due to the label.
Despite these breaches, EeZee Conceptz claimed to have made repeated attempts to resolve the matter amicably, including proposing reconciliation meetings, all of which they allege were ignored by the artist.
The label emphasised its financial investment in the production, promotion, and distribution of Mercy Chinwo’s music catalogue, noting that she did not contribute financially to the body of work. They reaffirmed that all funds, assets, and intellectual property associated with the catalogue remain the property of EeZee Conceptz according to the contract terms.In response to public claims made by Chinwo, the label urged her to demonstrate transparency by publicly sharing her bank statements and records of music production before and during her time with EeZee Conceptz, which would clarify the significant financial investment made by the label in her career.
EeZee Conceptz expressed concern over what they described as a misuse of institutional processes to escalate the dispute. They highlighted a previous incident in which their CEO was allegedly detained illegally by the EFCC for nine days, during which $274,000 was extorted under duress. Nonetheless, the label stated that it has continued to operate within the confines of the law.
“We remain committed to the rule of law and trust that the legal system will ensure a fair resolution to this matter. The allegations of fraud are not only baseless but also an attempt to undermine the years of investment, mentorship, and support provided to Mercy Chinwo through EeZee Conceptz,” the statement read.
They urged caution in engaging with one-sided narratives and encouraged adherence to verifiable facts and legal processes to prevent undue harm to the reputation of all parties involved.
In conclusion, EeZee Conceptz reaffirmed its commitment to transparency, professionalism, and the continued promotion of gospel music in Nigeria and beyond.
