A Federal High Court in Lagos on Thursday issued an arrest warrant against Ezekiel Onyedikachukwu, the manager of popular gospel singer Mercy Chinwo.
The arrest warrant was issued after Mercy Chinwo accused Onyedikachukwu of diverting $345,000 in royalties from her digital platforms and events.
Chinwo claimed that Onyedikachukwu received the funds without proper disclosure and failed to remit her rightful share.
Justice Alexander Owoeye granted the order following an ex parte motion brought by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) seeking the arrest of the manager.
Bilikisu Buhari who represented the EFCC, informed the court that the application was made under Section 35(1)(c) of the 1999 Constitution and Sections 35, 36, 37, 38, and 39 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015.
The application aimed to secure the manager’s appearance in court concerning allegations of financial misconduct.
Buhari submitted that if the commission was not able to arrest the manager, it would bring a public summons to declare him wanted.
The court granted the application, and adjourned the case until January 24, for the arraignment of the manager.
In an affidavit in support of the application, EFCC averred that it received a petition from Chinwo against the manager.
The affidavit was deposed to by Michael Idoko, an investigator with the commission.
Idoko revealed that the commission received a petition from Mercy Chinwo, in which she accused her manager of diverting $345,000 in royalties.
The singer alleged that Onyedikachukwu had been receiving royalties from her digital platforms and events without proper disclosure and had diverted the funds, failing to remit her rightful share.
They added that all efforts to arrest the manager failed before the arrest warrant.
