Seeks Intervention of PFN, Christian Elders
A Christian youth advocacy group, the Nigerian Christian Youth Network, NCYN, has denounced what it described as the meddling of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, in the contractual dispute between music producer Ezekiel Onyedikachi, popularly known as EeZee Tee, and gospel singer Mercy Chinwo.
In a statement signed by its National Coordinator, Michael Ekwere, the group also appealed to the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, PFN, and notable Christian leaders to intervene in the matter, which it said is unhealthy for the Christian music industry.
The group noted that, from its findings, the issue between EeZee Tee and Mercy Chinwo is purely a contractual dispute, which does not in any way fall within the mandate of the EFCC.
It, however, expressed dismay that the commission would neglect its core mandate of combating the huge economic and financial crimes plaguing the country and instead give serious attention to a dispute between a gospel artist and her label company due to personal interest.
The statement reads: “As a faith-based organisation, we are concerned with the current dispute between EeZee Tee and Mercy Chinwo because they are our brethren in the faith. We have carefully examined the issue, which has generated much uproar in the Christian and secular communities, and concluded that it is purely a contractual dispute.
“On the one hand, Mercy Chinwo is alleging that her legitimate earnings are being withheld byEeZee Tee Concept, owned by EeZee Tee. On the other hand, the record label is also demanding an unbiased account reconciliation, claiming that Mercy Chinwo failed to remit the company’s share from her public engagements.
“Clearly, this is a simple contractual dispute that either party can seek to resolve in a civil court.
“We are, however, worried that the EFCC has now become a tool in the hands of one party to intimidate and harass the other.
“From our findings, acting on a petition, the EFCC, without any valid court order, last year froze the domiciliary account of EeZee Tee, detained him in Ilorin, Kwara State, for nine days, and further compelled him to pay Mercy Chinwo $274,000.
“When EeZee Tee challenged his illegal detention through a fundamental rights enforcement suit against the EFCC, the commission quickly ran to another court to obtain an arrest warrant against him.
“In a three-count charge now before the Federal High Court, Lagos, the EFCC is accusing EeZee Tee of ‘fraudulent conversion’ of the legitimate earnings of Chinwo and another artist, Judikay.
“From what is ongoing, it is clear that the EFCC is acting on a script, either for personal or pecuniary interest, and we urge the commission’s chairman to call his officers to order.
“We see no reason why the commission would allow itself to be used as a tool to harass, intimidate, and embarrass someone in a clear civil dispute.
“We call on the Attorney General of the Federation, Chief Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, to look into this case and many other similar cases for which the EFCC has been accused of pursuing merely to embarrass and intimidate respectable Nigerians.
“We also use this medium to appeal to the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) and Christian leaders to look into the matter, which we believe is unhealthy for the Christian music industry.”
