A Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi has ruled that Ezekiel Thankgod, the former manager of gospel artiste Mercy Chinwo, must appear in court to take his plea in an alleged $340,000 fraud case.
Justice A.O. Owoeye, presiding over the matter on Monday, adjourned the arraignment to March 6, emphasizing that the defendant’s continued absence would not be tolerated.
Thankgod has repeatedly evaded arraignment by the Lagos Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, leading the court to issue a warrant for his arrest during proceedings on January 16.
The defendant is facing a three-count charge related to money laundering and dishonest conversion of funds amounting to $340,000.
One of the charges states, “That EZEKIEL ONYEDIKACHUKWU THANKGOD and EEZEE GLOBAL CONCEPTS LIMITED sometime in 2023, directly retained the sum of $260,494 (Two Hundred and Sixty Thousand Four Hundred and Ninety-Four USD) in EEZEE GLOBAL MINISTRY Zenith Bank Plc account number, which sums you reasonably ought to have known forms part of the proceeds of an unlawful activity, the dishonest conversion of the said sum, property of Mercy Chinwo and Judith Kanayo.”
The offence contravenes Section 18(2)(d) and is punishable under Section 18(3) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
The January 16 bench warrant for Thankgod’s arrest followed an application by the prosecution counsel, Bilikisu Buhari, who informed the court that all efforts to serve him the charges had failed, as he remained unreachable.
On January 24, his defence counsel, Monday Ubani, accepted service on his behalf but raised a preliminary objection challenging the charges.
At the scheduled Monday arraignment, Thankgod was absent once again, prompting Justice Owoeye to demand an explanation.
His defence counsel claimed he had received a phone call from Thankgod, stating that he had been involved in a serious accident earlier that morning but assured he would appear in court on the next adjourned date.
The lead prosecutor, Rotimi Oyedepo, criticised the defence team’s approach, describing it as “strange.”
Citing provisions of Section 396(2) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act and judicial precedents, including State vs Achara and the Federal Republic of Nigeria vs Yahaya Bello, Oyedepo urged the court not to entertain any applications from the defence.
“It is a show of shame and outright disrespect for this court, for the defendant to be absent on three different occasions in a criminal trial,” Oyedepo said.
He further informed the court that after the previous adjourned date, the defendant had been seen within the court premises, granting media interviews, despite failing to appear for his arraignment.
He argued that if Thankgod was truly indisposed, he should have submitted an affidavit as evidence before the court.
After hearing both sides, Justice Owoeye declined the defence’s request, stating that the court had not yet assumed jurisdiction over the case, as the defendant’s plea had not been taken.
“The court has not assumed jurisdiction over the case since the plea of the defendant has not been taken,” Justice Owoeye ruled.
He further held that the bench warrant issued on January 16, 2025, had not been withdrawn and remains in effect.
The judge ruled that the defendant must appear in court on March 6, either through the enforcement of the bench warrant or by being produced by his counsel for arraignment.
(Punch Newspaper)
