A federal high court in Lagos has issued a warrant for the arrest of Ezekiel Onyedikachukwu, former manager to gospel singer Mercy Chinwo.
Alexander Owoeye, the presiding judge, granted the order on
Thursday following an ex parte motion filed by the Economic and Financial
Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Bilikisu Buhari, representing the EFCC in court, cited legal
provisions 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, to support
the application.
Buhari argued that the arrest warrant was necessary to
ensure Onyedikachukwu’s appearance in court to address alleged criminal
charges.
In an affidavit supporting the application, the EFCC said it
received a petition from Chinwo against the manager.
The affidavit, deposed by Michael Idoko, an EFCC
investigator, said the singer accused her manager of receiving royalties from
her digital platforms and events without disclosing the transactions.
According to the EFCC, Chinwo claimed that the manager
diverted approximately $345,000 without remitting her share.
The commission added that efforts to arrest the manager were
unsuccessful, prompting the application for a warrant of arrest.
Buhari added that if the manager could not be apprehended,
the EFCC would resort to a public summons to declare him wanted.
The court granted the application and adjourned the case to
January 24 for Onyedikachukwu’s arraignment.
Onyedikachukwu is the founder of record label EeZee
Conceptz. Chinwo was signed to the label in 2017 after winning the second
season of the Nigerian Idol.
In September 2022, there were reports that Chinwo left Eezee
Conceptz due to a disagreement over financial matters.
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