- Gospel producer Ezekiel Onyedikachukwu denies Mercy Chinwo’s $345,000 royalty diversion claims.
- Onyedikachukwu says he discovered Chinwo in 2017 and insists allegations are baseless.
- Court hearing on the case is set for January 24, 2025.
The embattled founder of Eeze Conceptz Limited, Ezekiel Onyedikachukwu, has publicly refuted allegations by gospel singer Mercy Chinwo, claiming that the accusations against him are baseless and false.
In a statement released on Saturday in Abuja by Onyedikachukwu’s lawyer, Maxwell Opara, it was asserted that Chinwo’s claims of royalty diversion and mismanagement were fabrications aimed at tarnishing his reputation.
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Opara clarified that Onyedikachukwu was not Chinwo’s manager but her producer, responsible for discovering and promoting her in 2017, which catapulted her to prominence in the gospel music industry.
“The allegations that our client diverted $345,000 in royalties and that he could not be located are entirely false,” Opara stated.
He further noted that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which had obtained an arrest warrant, was aware of Onyedikachukwu’s whereabouts and had no grounds for claiming otherwise.
The dispute stems from a record label and management contract signed between Chinwo and Eeze Conceptz Limited in 2017, spanning five years.
Opara argued that Chinwo had reneged on the terms of the agreement, which outlined shared rights to her music catalogue and revenue splits from royalties.
According to Opara, Onyedikachukwu was detained by the EFCC for nine days in April 2024 during a comprehensive audit of his financial records, which revealed no wrongdoing.
Despite this, the EFCC sought a fresh arrest warrant, leading Onyedikachukwu to file a fundamental rights enforcement suit at the Federal High Court in Lagos against the EFCC, Chinwo, and others.
“These schemes are a calculated attempt to malign the label and its founder,” Opara said, urging the public to disregard what he described as a coordinated smear campaign.
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The Federal High Court, presided over by Justice Alexander Owoeye, issued an arrest warrant against Onyedikachukwu on Thursday and scheduled his arraignment for January 24, 2025.
As the legal battle unfolds, Onyedikachukwu remains steadfast in his resolve to clear his name, asserting confidence that the court will deliver a just verdict.
