Mercy Chinwo’s Former Manager No Longer Faces Arrest Over Alleged $345k Fr¥ud

On Friday, a Lagos Federal High Court revoked an arrest order against Ezekiel Onyedikachi, the former manager of gospel artist Mercy Chinwo.

Justice Alexander Owoeye vacated the warrant, following an application by the Economic and Financial Cr#mes Commission (EFCC).

Ezekiel was charged with money mismanagement cr#mes, including stealing revenues from Chinwo’s events and internet platforms, Buhari had informed the court.

EFCC prosecutor, Mrs Bilikisu Buhari, had approached the court on January 16, to obtain an arrest warrant against the defendant, following the alleged inability to secure his attendance.

She said that in addition to failing to pay Chinwo’s part, he embezzled almost $345,000.

When the case was called on Friday, defence counsel Dr. Monday Ubani, informed the court that EFCC misled it into granting the arrest warrant, as the subject matter was purely contractual.

In order to prevent his detention, the defendant filed a fundamental rights enforcement suit against the EFCC in another court, he informed the court.

Ubani informed the judge that the defendant had also submitted a preliminary objection to the charge and asked the court to revoke the previously issued arrest order as no charges had been brought.

In response, Buhari informed the judge that since the court had ordered the defendant’s arrest, the commission had been unable to make the arrest.

She, therefore, sought the court’s permission to serve the charge on the defendant’s lawyer in the open court, who accepted the same.

The prosecutor added that there might be no need for the arrest warrant since the defence counsel had accepted the charge on behalf of his client.

In order to allow for a potential arraignment and hearing of outstanding applications, Owoeye subsequently postponed the matter until February 14.