The Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos, presided over by Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke, has adjourned the high-profile case involving Ezekiel Onyedikachukwu ThankGod, popularly known as Eezee Tee, a prominent music promoter and former manager of gospel artist Mercy Chinwo, to September 26, 2025.
The adjournment follows a request for additional time to finalize settlement discussions between the prosecution and defense.
ThankGod, alongside his company, Eezee Global Concepts Limited, is standing trial on a seven-count amended charge brought by the Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The charges center on allegations of foreign exchange malpractice and money laundering, reportedly involving transactions worth several hundred thousand dollars.
Case Background and Charges
The case, initially arraigned before Justice Owoeye at the same court, was reassigned to Justice Aneke for continuation of proceedings. According to court documents, one of the key charges accuses ThankGod of engaging in unauthorized foreign currency transactions.
Specifically, the EFCC alleges that ThankGod, not being an authorized foreign exchange dealer approved by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), negotiated a foreign currency deal with an individual, contravening provisions of the Foreign Exchange Monitoring and Miscellaneous (Provisions) Act. Other charges relate to money laundering activities, though specific details of the transactions remain under scrutiny as the case unfolds.
The allegations have drawn significant attention, given ThankGod’s prominence in Nigeria’s gospel music industry. As the founder of Eezee Global Concepts Limited, he has been instrumental in promoting gospel artists, including Mercy Chinwo, whose rise to fame was closely tied to his management.
Court Proceedings
At the hearing on Friday, June 20, 2025, the prosecution, led by Bilkisu Buhari-Bala, presented its first witness, Mohammed Timta, marking the commencement of substantive testimony in the case.
However, proceedings took a notable turn when defense counsel Chikaosolu Ojukwu, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), informed the court that both parties were nearing a potential settlement.
Ojukwu requested additional time to conclude these negotiations, emphasizing that, should the talks fail, the defense was prepared to proceed with a full trial.
Justice Aneke, after considering the submissions from both sides, granted the defense’s request and adjourned the case to September 26, 2025, for further hearing. The adjournment provides a window for the parties to finalize their discussions, potentially averting a protracted legal battle.
Implications and Public Interest
The case has sparked widespread interest, not only due to ThankGod’s celebrity status but also because it underscores the EFCC’s intensified crackdown on foreign exchange malpractices in Nigeria.
With the country grappling with foreign currency volatility and regulatory challenges, cases like this underscore the legal risks faced by individuals and businesses engaging in unauthorized foreign exchange transactions.
The allegations of money laundering further elevate the case’s significance, as they point to broader concerns about financial transparency in Nigeria’s entertainment industry.
As the September 26, 2025, date approaches, all eyes will be on whether ThankGod and the EFCC reach a settlement or proceed to a full trial. A settlement could see the music promoter avoid a potentially damaging legal outcome, while a trial would likely bring more details of the alleged transactions into the public domain.
WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW
The trial of music promoter Ezekiel Onyedikachukwu ThankGod (Eezee Tee) and his company, Eezee Global Concepts Limited, on charges of foreign exchange malpractice and money laundering involving hundreds of thousands of dollars has been adjourned to September 26, 2025, by Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke in Lagos.
