A Federal High Court in Lagos has reaffirmed the arrest warrant issued for Ezekiel Onyedikachi, the former manager of gospel singer Mercy Chinwo, over allegations of embezzling approximately $345,000 in royalties owed to the singer.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) secured the arrest warrant on January 16 after an ex-parte application was filed before Judge Alexander Owoeye.
The commission claims Onyedikachi diverted the royalties for his personal use without Chinwo’s knowledge or consent.
EFCC counsel Bilikis Buhari told the court that the agency had been unable to serve the charge on Onyedikachi as he was unreachable.
On January 24, Onyedikachi’s defence counsel, Monday Ubani, accepted service of the charge on behalf of the defendant.
During Monday’s hearing, Onyedikachi’s defence informed the court that the defendant had been involved in a “terrible accident” and would not attend the proceedings.
The court declined to hear objections from the defence, citing the defendant’s absence as grounds for postponing the matter until he appeared before the court.
Prosecuting counsel condemned Onyedikachi’s repeated absences as “a show of shame and outright disrespect” for the court.
Judge Owoeye ruled that the bench warrant remains valid, directing Onyedikachi to appear in court on the next adjourned date, scheduled for March 6.
The case will proceed following an agreement between the prosecution and defence.
