Music producer EeZee Tee pledges to prove his innocence as EFCC pursues a fraud case against him. Court adjourns arraignment to March 6

Nigerian music producer Ezekiel Onyedikachi, popularly known as EeZee Tee, has affirmed his commitment to proving his innocence in the fraud case filed against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

On Monday, during a hearing at the Federal High Court in Lagos, EeZee Tee’s lawyer, Dr Monday Ubani (SAN), assured the court that his client is prepared to face the charges.

However, the producer was absent from the proceedings, with his counsel informing the court that he had suffered a serious accident earlier that morning.

Despite his absence, Ubani assured the presiding judge, Justice Alexander Owoeye, that EeZee Tee would be present at the next hearing to take his plea.

The judge, however, ruled that the court had yet to assume jurisdiction over the case since the defendant had not been arraigned.

The EFCC’s lead prosecutor, Mr Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), criticised the defendant’s absence, stating that this was the third time EeZee Tee had failed to appear in court.

He argued that if the music producer was indeed indisposed, an affidavit should have been submitted as proof.

“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,” Oyedepo stated.

Citing legal provisions, he urged the court to issue a bench warrant to compel the defendant’s appearance, emphasising the importance of upholding the integrity of the judicial process.

Although the defence counsel objected to the warrant and assured the court that EeZee Tee would appear voluntarily, the prosecution insisted that a legal order was necessary.

In his ruling, Justice Owoeye noted that a previous bench warrant against EeZee Tee remained in effect and had not been withdrawn.

He ordered that the defendant must appear in court on the next hearing date, either voluntarily or under the subsisting warrant.

With both legal teams agreeing, the court adjourned the case to March 6 for EeZee Tee’s formal arraignment.

The case continues to draw public attention, as EeZee Tee is a well-known figure in Nigeria’s gospel music industry.