The well-known gospel singer, Mercy Chinwo, has accused his former manager Ezekiel Onyedikachukwu, CEO of EeZee Conceptz, a music company producing several Nigerian gospel artists, of diverting approximately $345,000 in royalties from her digital platforms and events.
Nigeria’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) intervened in the dispute.
This led to the Lagos Federal High Court issuing an arrest warrant for Oyedikachukwu on January 16, 2025.
He responded by dismissing Mercy Chinwo’s accusations as false and baseless.
Mr. Ezekiel Oyedikachukwu publicly accused Mercy Chinwo in a series of posts on the company’s Instagram page.
He alleged that she failed to respect the terms of their contract.
The EeZee Conceptz CEO added that she has been using her influence and connections within the Christian community in Nigeria to undermine his efforts.
He accused her of spreading misleading information regarding the circumstances surrounding their disagreement.
Oyedikachukwu Refutes Mercy Chinwo’s Accusations
Following the court warrant issued against him, Mr. Oyedikachukwu responded that Mercy Chinwo had received $62,500 from Eezee Concepts and expressed a desire to clarify certain aspects of their agreement to avoid further misunderstanding.
He equally mentioned that, while Eezee Concepts offered a fair 50/50 earning ratio, Mercy Chinwo is seeking alternative support from law enforcement and religious organisations regarding a catalogue she did not contribute to financially.
“It’s important to recognise that you have already received over $635,000. However, it feels disappointing that this situation continues to unfold in this manner. Your journey began as my backup singer, and I am genuinely committed to supporting your career from the start. There is wrong information circulating and the potential misuse of legal and religious channels against me, which is concerning,” Ezekiel wrote.
“I invested significant resources to help your career flourish, including offering you housing when you needed it. However, our agreement stipulated that a third album would be delivered, and funds meant for the label from events were withheld. When those challenges arose, I sought a constructive way to resolve the issues, proposing meetings and an independent audit for transparency. It’s also important to mention that I faced legal challenges last year, which led to an unjust situation involving $274,000.
“Your claim to a catalogue I financed is concerning, especially since you haven’t contributed financially to its creation. For years, you have benefitted from quarterly royalties and our agreed terms.
“I genuinely appreciate the support and prayers from those around us. May we ultimately find a path toward truth and justice through open communication,” Mr. Oyedikachukwu said.
The court proceedings concerning the allegations and the warrant arrest of Mr. Ezekiel Oyedikachukwu may continue on January 24, 2025.
