Justice Alexander Owoeye of the Federal High Court in Lagos on Monday held that the bench warrant issued against Ezekiel Onyedikachi (A.K.A. Eezeetee), the manager of gospel singer Mercy Chinwo, over alleged $345,000 fraud, subsists.

The court had issued the bench warrant on January 16, after

the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission sought a court to arrest Onyedikachi over allegations of financial mismanagement, including diverting royalties from Chinwo’s digital platforms and events.

The case was then adjourned till January 24 for his arraignment.

But when the case came up, the defendant’s counsel, Dr Monday Ubani (SAN), argued that the arrest warrant was unjustified.

He claimed that the matter was a contractual dispute, not a criminal one, and informed the court that Onyedikachi had filed a fundamental rights enforcement suit against the EFCC before another court to stop his arrest.

Ubani also told the court that his client had filed a preliminary objection to the charge against him and urged the court to vacate the earlier arrest warrant issued against him.

He also told the court that his client had not been served with any charge by the EFCC.

Responding, the EFCC counsel, Bilikisu Buhari, told the court that the commission had been unable to arrest the defendant since the court ordered his arrest.

She requested the court’s permission to serve the charge on Onyedikachi’s lawyer, Ubani, in the open court.

Ubani, who received the charges on behalf of his client, however, prayed to the court for a date to hear the preliminary objection against the fraud allegation.

After listening to the arguments of both counsels, Justice Owoeye “Said in the light of the defendant’s lawyer having accepted service of the charges and the preliminary objection against the charge, the court would adjourn to decide on the pending application.”

Consequently, the judge adjourned the case to February 14, 2025, for possible arraignment and hearing of pending applications before the court, but on February 14, the case didn’t go on as it didn’t sit.

At the resumed hearing of the case on Monday, Ubani told the court that Onyedikachi was not in court as he had a domestic accident.

But the EFCC’s counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, said the day’s business was the defendant’s arraignment.

Ubani objected to Onyedikachi’s arraignment, saying, “We are raising an objection to the charge; his plea can only be taken if it is proper.”

He also informed the court of the two applications he had earlier filed, one of which was a preliminary objection dated January 29, 2025 and filed on January 31, 2025.

Meanwhile, Ubani withdrew the second preliminary objection dated January 22.

The prosecutor, Oyedepo, did not object to the withdrawal of the preliminary objection dated January 22.

Ubani then informed the court about the application objecting to the jurisdiction of the court to entertain the case.

When the defence counsel sought to move his objection, the court declined because he could not be heard until the defendant appeared before the court.

Justice Owoeye held that the court had not assumed jurisdiction over the case since the plea of the defendant had not been taken.

“I will not hear the application, the defendant has to come to court for his arraignment,” Justice Owoeye said.

Oyedepo, citing provisions of Sections 396(2) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, as well as judicial authorities of State vs Achara and Frn vs Yahaya Bello, urged the court not to hear the defence application.

“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.

Oyedepo said, “It is on record of My lord that the prosecution obtained a warrant of arrest on January 16, 2025, and adjourned till January 24 2025, for the arraignment of the defendant, but on January 24, 2025, the defendant was not before the court.

“What appears to be a show of shame was that after the court’s proceedings, this defendant that did not dignify the court with respect came to the court’s premises and granted interviews with the media, making comments about the proceedings in the presence of his counsel.

“Today, the defendant did not come for his arraignment only to say he had an accident in his house without any medical report or video as evidence.”

However, Oyedepo urged the court to issue a bench warrant to compel the attendance of the defendant before the court, adding that the same is important to protect the integrity of the court.

Although defence counsel objected to the grant of a bench warrant by the court and undertook to personally produce the defendant on his honour, on the next adjourned date.

The court adjourned the case until March 6, 2025, for arraignment.

Unknown gunmen abducted three people at a farm in Oke Oge, Oba Ile, Akure North Local Government Area of Ondo State, on Saturday evening, February 8, 2025.

The victims, whose identities were yet to be disclosed at the time of filing this report, were confirmed to be a farm manager and two Industrial Training students working on the farm.

The attack comes barely two weeks after suspected herdsmen allegedly killed five laborers at a farm in the Ajegunle-Powerline community in the same LG.

According to a source, the farm, located near the Akure Airport, is owned by a former commissioner in the state and specializes in pepper and tomato cultivation.

“Those kidnapped are students undergoing their Industrial Training at the farm. It’s a pepper and tomatoes farm belonging to a former commissioner,” the source said.

Confirming the incident on Sunday, February 9, 2025, the Commander of the Ondo State Security Network Agency, Amotekun, Akogun Adetunji Adeleye, said security operatives had been deployed to track down the kidnappers and rescue the victims.

“I can confirm to you that we are on top of the situation. They were kidnapped while returning from the farm. Our men have been deployed to rescue them from the kidnappers’ den,” Adeleye stated.

Meanwhile, a family source revealed that the kidnappers have demanded a ₦15m ransom for the victims’ release.

“The kidnappers have contacted the families and are insisting on ₦15m ransom. Since then, they have switched off their phone,” the source disclosed.

Security agencies are intensifying efforts to ensure the safe return of the victims.

Justice Alexander Owoeye of the Federal High Court in Lagos has granted a warrant of arrest against Ezekiel Onyedikachukwu, the manager of gospel singer, Mercy Chinwo.

The judge granted the order on Thursday sequel to a motion exparte brought before the court by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission seeking arrest of the manager.

When the case came up on Thursday, Mrs Bilikisu Buhari, announced her appearance for the EFCC.

Buhari then informed the court of an application brought by the EFCC pursuant to Section 35(1) (c) of the 1999 Constitution and Sections 35, 36, 37, 38 and 39 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015.

However, she moved the application seeking an order to issue a warrant of arrest against the manager.

She said the warrant would be to compel the manager’s appearance in court to answer to criminal offences he allegedly committed.

Buhari stated that if the commission was not able to arrest the manager, it would bring a public summons to declare him wanted.

After listening to her submissions the court granted the application, and adjourned the case until January 24, 2025, for the arraignment of the manager.

In an affidavit in support of the application, the EFCC averred that it received a petition from Chinwo against the manager.

The affidavit was deposed to by an investigator with the commission, Mr Michael Idoko.

He averred that the gospel singer alleged that the manager was receiving royalty on all her digital platforms and events without disclosure.

According to the EFCC, the gospel singer claimed that the manager diverted about $345,000, without remitting her share.

It said efforts to arrest the manager failed, necessitating the application for a warrant of arrest.

The court adjourned the case until January 24 for arraignment of the manager.

Premier League side Everton have appointed David Moyes as manager for a second time.

The 61-year-old Scot signed a two-and-a-half-year contract at Goodison Park following the sacking of Sean Dyche on Thursday.

Everton are 16th on the Premier League table – one point clear of the relegation zone – with only three wins from 19 games this season.

“I enjoyed 11 wonderful and successful years at Everton and didn’t hesitate when I was offered the opportunity to rejoin this great club,” said Moyes.

“Now we need Goodison and all Evertonians to play their part in getting behind the players in this important season so we can move into our fabulous new stadium as a Premier League team.”

Moyes managed Everton from 2002 until 2013 before spells in charge of Manchester United, Real Sociedad, Sunderland and West Ham twice.

He has been out of work since leaving West Ham, where he won the Europa Conference League in 2023, at the end of last season.

Moyes spent 11 years at Everton before leaving to take charge of United as Sir Alex Ferguson’s successor in the summer of 2013.

Following a four-year spell at Preston, he joined Everton in March 2002, with the Toffees in danger of relegation.

Moyes won his first match and went on to take charge of more than 500 games.

Everton reached the FA Cup final in 2009 and finished in the top eight of the Premier League nine times, including fourth in 2004-05, which took them into Champions League qualifying.

Moyes gave Wayne Rooney his professional debut and signed several players who would become Everton greats, including Tim Cahill and Marouane Fellaini.

Moyes was handpicked by Sir Alex as his successor at Old Trafford but failed to see out the 2013-14 season.

He was sacked in April 2014 after 10 months in charge, with United seventh in the table and unable to qualify for the Champions League.

Moyes had a year in La Liga with Sociedad before returning to English football with Sunderland, who were relegated from the Premier League in 2016-17.

Moyes helped West Ham avoid relegation in 2017-18 during a six-month spell in charge.

He was close to signing a deal to succeed Marco Silva at Everton in December 2019, but owner Farhad Moshiri appointed Carlo Ancelotti.

Moyes returned to West Ham that month following the sacking of Manuel Pellegrini, and remained in charge until the end of the 2023-24 season.

In that time he led them to two top-seven finishes and won the Europa Conference League, their first major trophy for 43 years.

Moyes was made an OBE in the 2025 New Year Honours.