A federal high court in Lagos has reaffirmed that the arrest warrant issued against Ezekiel Onyedikachi, the former manager of gospel singer Mercy Chinwo, remains valid.
Onyedikachi is accused of diverting approximately $345,000 in royalties due to Chinwo without remitting them.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) obtained the arrest warrant from Alexander Owoeye, the judge, on January 16, following an ex-parte application.
The commission alleged that Onyedikachi had converted the royalties for his personal use without Chinwo’s knowledge or consent.
Bilikis Buhari, the EFCC counsel, told the court that the prosecution was unable to effect service of the charge on Onyedikachukwu because he was unreachable.
Monday Ubani, the defence counsel, undertook an acceptance of service of the charge on behalf of the defendant on January 24.
At Monday’s hearing, Onyedikachi’s defense counsel informed the court that he received a call from the defendant, who said he had a “terrible accident this morning” and would be unable to attend the proceedings.
When defence counsel sought to move his objection, the court declined on the grounds that he could not be heard until the defendant appeared before the court.
On his part, the prosecuting counsel described the constant absence of the defendant in court as “a show of shame and outright disrespect for the court”.
“My lord, 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,” he said.
In his ruling, Owoeye held that the bench warrant still subsist, as it had not been withdrawn.
The judge also ordered Onyedikachi to appear on the next adjourned date for his arraignment, either by virtue of the subsisting bench warrant or by production through his defense counsel.
The case was adjourned until March 6, following an agreement between the prosecution and defense counsel.
