A Federal High Court in Lagos on Friday rescinded an arrest warrant previously issued against Ezekiel Onyedikachi, a former manager to renowned Gospel singer Mercy Chinwo.
The decision was made by Justice Alexander Owoeye after considering a motion brought by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The EFCC had initially requested the warrant on January 16 due to the alleged inability to secure Onyedikachi’s attendance in court.
This development came in connection with accusations of criminal misconduct, specifically financial mismanagement of royalties from Chinwo’s digital platforms and events.
The EFCC prosecutor, Mrs. Bilikisu Buhari, informed the court that Onyedikachi was accused of diverting approximately $345,000 meant for the singer, failing to remit her rightful share. According to Buhari, the warrant was necessary to compel the defendant’s appearance.
However, during the hearing on Friday, the defence counsel, Dr. Monday Ubani, argued that the arrest warrant was issued under misleading circumstances. He stated that the allegations against his client were rooted in a contractual dispute rather than criminal activity, thereby questioning the jurisdiction of the EFCC in the matter.
Ubani further revealed that Onyedikachi had already filed a fundamental rights enforcement suit against the EFCC in another court, seeking protection against unlawful arrest.
Additionally, he noted that his client had lodged a preliminary objection to the charges and emphasized that no formal charge had been served on Onyedikachi prior to the issuance of the arrest warrant. He urged the court to vacate the warrant, highlighting that due process had not been followed.
In response, Buhari acknowledged the challenges faced by the commission in apprehending Onyedikachi since the arrest warrant was issued. She then requested the court’s permission to serve the charge directly to Onyedikachi’s lawyer in open court, a request which was accepted.
Buhari further suggested that the arrest warrant might no longer be necessary, given that the defence counsel had accepted the charge on behalf of his client. This marked a significant turn in the proceedings, as both parties now seemed poised to focus on the substance of the legal dispute.
Following these exchanges, Justice Owoeye adjourned the case to February 14 for Onyedikachi’s potential arraignment and the hearing of pending applications, including the defence’s preliminary objection.
The upcoming court date is expected to address the core issues in the case, providing clarity on whether the allegations of financial mismanagement have merit or if the matter is indeed a contractual dispute outside the scope of criminal litigation.
