A Federal High Court in Lagos has fixed February 14, 2025, for the arraignment of Ezekiel Thankgod, former manager of gospel singer, Mercy Chinwo, over an alleged $345,000 fraud.
At Friday’s hearing, Ezekiel’s lawyer, Monday Ubani (SAN), argued that the dispute was contractual, not criminal.
He informed the court that his client had filed a fundamental rights suit against the EFCC to stop his arrest and also lodged a preliminary objection to the charges.
Ubani urged the court to revoke the arrest warrant issued against Ezekiel, claiming he had not been served with the charges.
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In response, the EFCC admitted difficulty in executing the warrant but requested to serve the charges in open court.
Ubani accepted the charges on behalf of his client and asked for a hearing date on the objection.
After listening to both sides, Justice Alexander Owoeye adjourned the case to February 14 for arraignment and further deliberations.
Recall Tribune Online reported that Mercy Chinwo, in a petition to the EFCC, accused her former manager of diverting royalties from digital platforms and event earnings.
This allegation led Justice Alexander Owoeye to approve the 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 criminal offences.
