Mercy Chinwo drags ex-manager to court for allegedly diverting music royalties worth $345K

• Nigerian gospel singer Mercy Chinwo has accused her manager, Ezekiel Onyedikachukwu, of diverting $345,000 in royalties.
• The EFCC filed a motion to secure his appearance in court, and a warrant was issued for his arrest.
• Onyedikachukwu will be arraigned on January 24 for allegedly failing to declare or remit Mercy’s fair share of royalties from her online platforms and concerts.

Nigerian gospel singer Mercy Chinwo has reportedly dragged her former manager, Ezekiel Onyedikachukwu, to court over allegations of financial misconduct.

Onyedikachukwu is accused of diverting a whopping $345,000 in royalties from Mercy’s online platforms and concerts without proper disclosure or payment to the singer.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) through Mrs. Bilikisu Buhari has stepped in, filing a motion to secure Onyedikachukwu’s appearance in court to answer to these criminal charges.

The court has granted the EFCC’s application, issuing an arrest warrant for Onyedikachukwu, who will be arraigned on January 24. According to the EFCC, Onyedikachukwu received royalties from Mercy’s digital platforms and events but failed to declare or remit her fair share.

The commission’s efforts to arrest Onyedikachukwu have been unsuccessful, prompting the request for an arrest warrant.

In other news, Mercy Chinwo and her husband, Pastor Blessed Uzochikwa, brought festive joy to the Rumudara community in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, with a generous donation on December 30, 2024.

Through their Mercy Is Blessed Foundation, an outreach arm of Mercy Chinwo’s Grace and Truth Nation (GNT) Music Label, the couple distributed bags of rice, garri, cartons of tomato paste, and tubers of yams.

In addition to these essential food items, they also provided cash gifts and clothing materials to support the community’s elderly, single mothers, and disadvantaged residents.

Speaking about the initiative, Pastor Blessed emphasized the deep connection between giving and love, drawing inspiration from the Bible’s John 3:16.

“The central goal of Christ is love, and He is the reason for the season. According to John 3:16, giving is the DNA of love. It says, ‘For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life,’” Pastor Blessed said.

He further explained that the foundation’s mission goes beyond addressing immediate needs.

“Love is about giving, and that is why the Mercy Is Blessed Foundation has made it a central goal to share the love of Jesus Christ with people who don’t know where their next meal will come from. The goal is not just to give them food, but to empower them and help establish sustainable means of income,” Pastor Blessed added.