Gospel Music Promoter Arraigned by EFCC Over $397,106 Forex Fraud and Money Laundering

The Nigerian Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned gospel music promoter Ezekiel Onyedikachukwu ThankGod, popularly known as Eezee Tee, alongside his company, Eezee Global Concepts Limited, on an amended seven-count charge of alleged forex malpractice and money laundering totaling $397,106.

The charges stem from alleged violations of forex regulations and financial reporting requirements. One of the counts accuses ThankGod and Eezee Global Concepts of negotiating a forex transaction to the naira equivalent of  $52,895 in June 2023 in Lagos with an individual, without being an authorized foreign exchange currency buyer under Section 5(1) of the Foreign Exchange Monitoring and Miscellaneous (Provisions) Act CAP F34 LFN 2004.

Additionally, EFCC alleged that in 2024, in Lagos, the defendants failed to submit required financial activity declarations to the Special Control Unit Against Money Laundering, despite $137,383 being deposited into Eezee Global Concepts Limited’s Zenith Bank account (5070522520).

Upon hearing the charges, ThankGod pleaded "not guilty". In response, prosecution counsel Bilkisu Buhari-Bala requested a trial date and urged the court to remand the defendant in a Correctional Centre. However, his defense counsel, Chikaosolu Ojukwu SAN, applied for bail, which the EFCC opposed, citing a subsisting arrest warrant and allegations that the defendant had previously evaded service.