The Federal High Court in Lagos has mandated the arrest of Ezekiel Onyedikachukwu, who is the manager of renowned gospel musician Mercy Chinwo.
Justice Alexander Owoeye approved this order on Thursday, January 16, following an ex parte motion presented by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
During the court session, EFCC’s counsel, Mrs Bilikisu Buhari, notified the court about an application under the 1999 Constitution and the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015.
The application sought a warrant for Onyedikachukwu’s arrest to obligate his court appearance for charges of criminal misconduct.
Backing the application, an affidavit submitted by EFCC’s investigator, Michael Idoko, highlighted that a complaint had been received from Chinwo against her manager.
Chinwo charged that Onyedikachukwu had received royalties from her digital platforms and live events without transparency. Per the affidavit, the manager is suspected of diverting $345,000 without disbursing her portion.
The EFCC counsel mentioned prior attempts to capture the manager were unsuccessful, leading to the petition for an arrest warrant.
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She added that the commission would issue a public summons if the manager remains unreachable. The court consented to EFCC’s application and set the next hearing for the manager’s appearance on January 24.
