VeryDarkMan Alleges Gospel Singer Manipulated Public Perception
Controversial social media critic, Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), has accused gospel singer Mercy Chinwo of manipulation and deceit in her ongoing dispute with her former manager and record label boss, Ezekiel ThankGod Onyedikachukwu (Eezee Tee).
In a recent video posted on his social media handles, VDM expressed disappointment in Chinwo, claiming that she and her team had misled the public about the real issues behind the legal battle.
“I am so disappointed in Mercy Chinwo and everything she represents. All these things they are doing, disguising under the name of gospel and Christianity, is just sad. I will not use ‘allegedly’ because I have proof. If Mercy Chinwo feels I am lying, she can take me to court,” VDM declared.
The Root of the Dispute: Royalties and Contract Breach
According to VDM, the conflict began when Eezee Tee withheld Mercy Chinwo’s royalties, claiming that she had performed at concerts and programs without informing the label and had also failed to disclose payments she received.
To support his claims, VDM posted a March 21, 2023 letter addressed to Chinwo, titled “NOTICE OF BREACH OF CONTRACT AND INFRINGEMENT OF COPYRIGHT.” The letter reportedly stated that:
✅ Mercy Chinwo was not communicating with the label and had redirected payments to her personal account instead of the company’s designated account.
✅ The label had paid all her royalties up to the first quarter of 2022 but decided to withhold future payments until the issues were resolved.
✅ Chinwo was not honoring invitations for which churches and organizations had already paid fees, forcing Eezee Conceptz to issue refunds.
EFCC Involvement and Alleged Freezing of Eezee Tee’s Accounts
VDM further claimed that Mercy Chinwo filed a petition with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), accusing Eezee Tee of illegally withholding her royalties. This led to:
🔹 EFCC freezing Eezee Tee’s bank accounts
🔹 Summoning Eezee Tee for questioning in Ilorin on April 24, 2024
🔹 His detention for nine days under the supervision of EFCC officer Stanley Ojilibo
“The EFCC forced Eezee Tee to write a statement to match Mercy Chinwo’s claims. They pressured him to hand over Mercy’s entire music catalog,” VDM alleged.
Eezee Tee’s Response: Payments Made Under Duress
After days in custody, Eezee Tee allegedly agreed to transfer $274,000 (approximately N450 million) to Mercy Chinwo to settle the royalty dispute.
🔹 He was taken to the bank under EFCC supervision to unfreeze his account
🔹 Payments were made in installments
🔹 Chinwo reportedly returned only $3,500, which she admitted was from performances she did without the label’s knowledge
VDM also claimed that Mercy Chinwo refused an audit of her accounts and insisted that Eezee Tee hand over all her music catalog rights.
History Between Eezee Tee and Mercy Chinwo
According to VDM, Eezee Tee and Mercy Chinwo had a long-standing relationship before her rise to fame:
✅ They met in 2012, before Chinwo competed in Nigerian Idol
✅ She allegedly mismanaged her earnings from the competition and returned to Eezee Tee in 2017 for support
✅ When Eezee Conceptz became successful in 2019, a formal contract was signed, but the contract date was backdated to reflect the actual duration of their working relationship
VDM Backs Eezee Tee, Calls Out Gospel Industry Power Play
VDM concluded his video by stating that he stands with Eezee Tee in the dispute. He also claimed that a well-known pastor, Apostle Anselm Madubuko of Revival Assembly, had tried to pressure Eezee Tee into giving up Mercy Chinwo’s catalog rights.
“She claims to have God on her side, but she also has powerful gospel industry figures backing her. Eezee Tee only has bloggers and the truth,” VDM remarked.
What’s Next?
As the dispute unfolds, it remains to be seen whether Mercy Chinwo will respond to VDM’s accusations or take legal action. Meanwhile, the controversy has sparked debates about transparency, accountability, and fairness in the Nigerian gospel music industry.
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