Mr. Ezekiel Onyedikachukwu, founder of Eeze Conceptz Limited, has responded to allegations made by gospel singer Mercy Chinwo, denying any wrongdoing and stating that her claims are false and without merit.
Onyedikachukwu’s lawyer, Mr. Maxwell Opara, issued a statement on Saturday in Abuja, rejecting the accusations and asserting that Chinwo’s actions were a breach of her contract with the label.
Opara clarified that Onyedikachukwu was never Chinwo’s manager but was the producer who discovered her singing talent in 2017, helped develop it, and played a key role in her rise to prominence in the gospel music industry.
He also dismissed the claim that Onyedikachukwu had stolen $345,000 in royalties, calling it a baseless accusation.
“The allegations made by Mercy Chinwo and the EFCC against our client are completely false. The EFCC’s claim that Onyedikachukwu was Chinwo’s manager is incorrect, and there is no evidence to support the claim that our client diverted her funds,” Opara stated.
“It is also false that Onyedikachukwu could not be reached, as both Mercy Chinwo and the EFCC are well aware of how to contact him.”
Opara revealed that the dispute arose after Chinwo allegedly breached her five-year contract with Eeze Conceptz Limited, which started in 2017 and was set to end in 2022.
The contract, according to Opara, included terms related to the ownership of the music catalogue and the distribution of royalties from the label’s investments in Chinwo’s career.
The lawyer further explained that despite a thorough audit of Onyedikachukwu’s bank accounts by the EFCC, no evidence of financial misconduct was found.
Opara also disclosed that a fundamental rights enforcement suit was filed in July 2024 to prevent further harassment and unlawful detention of his client.
“These actions by the EFCC and Mercy Chinwo are part of a deliberate attempt to damage the reputation of our client and the label. We are prepared to challenge these false claims through legal means,” he said.
On Thursday, a Lagos Federal High Court issued an arrest warrant for Onyedikachukwu following an ex-parte motion by the EFCC over the alleged misappropriation of Chinwo’s royalties. Justice Alexander Owoeye adjourned the case until January 24 for Onyedikachukwu’s arraignment.
NAN
