Mercy Chinwo former label EeZee Conceptz has issued an official response to Apostle Anselm Madubuko’s press statement, rejecting claims of financial impropriety and non-cooperation during mediation efforts in its ongoing dispute with former artist Mercy Chinwo. The label has strongly reaffirmed its transparency, contractual compliance, and rightful ownership of the music catalogue created during Mercy Chinwo’s time with the label.

In its response, EeZee Conceptz highlighted key inaccuracies in Apostle Madubuko’s account of events, asserting that the mediation process has been hindered by bias and misrepresentation of facts.

According to EeZee Conceptz, while the Apostle’s press statement attempts to frame the dispute as a financial issue, the real contention has always been the ownership of master rights.

“At the mediation meetings, the artists demanded the transfer of master rights to them, despite the clear terms of their contracts, which state that the music catalogue is owned by the label in perpetuity. These demands are not only legally unfounded but also go against the principles of fairness and respect for agreements,” the label stated.

The label emphasized that the artists are entitled only to royalties from the catalogue, which have been transparently accounted for.

“No funds were diverted by EeZee Conceptz. This entire campaign against the EeZee Tee  is an orchestrated attempt to forcefully claim ownership of the music catalogue we fully funded and produced. This is a clear violation of the contract terms that both parties agreed to,” the statement added.

EeZee Conceptz also addressed allegations by Apostle Madubuko that it failed to cooperate with the audit process. According to the label, it submitted its financial records to Judikay’s personal auditors to commence the process but faced roadblocks when Apostle Madubuko stopped responding to follow-up attempts to schedule meetings for appointing mutually trusted auditors.

“Contrary to the Apostle’s claims, I personally called him several times, sent messages, and even visited his house twice in an effort to reschedule the meeting for appointing new auditors. He assured me he would revert, but to date, I have received no response,” said EeZee Tee, CEO of EeZee Conceptz.

The label further revealed that it endured undue hardship during the dispute, including the nine-day detention of its CEO in Ilorin, during which all personal and corporate accounts were frozen. However, after extensive investigations into its books, no evidence of financial misconduct was found.

“Despite the ordeal I faced, including losing access to my family and business operations during my detention, our records were thoroughly investigated, and no wrongdoing was discovered. This is a testament to the transparency and integrity with which EeZee Conceptz operates,” the EeZee Tee stated.

EeZee Conceptz expressed disappointment in what it described as Apostle Madubuko’s biased handling of the mediation process.

“When men of God are entrusted with resolving conflicts, they must approach the matter with fairness, impartiality, and a commitment to truth. Unfortunately, Apostle Madubuko has allowed bias to cloud his role, making false claims and failing to address breaches on the part of the artist,” the label said.

The label cited examples from the first mediation meeting, where it raised issues of one of the artists boycotting scheduled events and diverting funds to personal accounts in breach of her contract. According to EeZee Conceptz, the Apostle failed to address these breaches, further questioning the neutrality of the process.

Despite the ongoing challenges, EeZee Conceptz reiterated its commitment to fairness, integrity, and adherence to contractual agreements.

“Throughout our history, EeZee Conceptz has provided periodic financial reports to all our talents, ensuring full transparency. We remain steadfast in our commitment to uphold justice, protect the integrity of our contracts, and defend the investments we have made to support gospel creatives. We trust that the truth will ultimately prevail,” the label concluded.

Background

The dispute between EeZee Conceptz and Mercy Chinwo has gained significant public attention, centered around claims of unpaid royalties, fund diversion, and disagreements over the ownership of master rights.

In a press statement dated January 18, 2025, Apostle Anselm Madubuko detailed his involvement as a mediator, accusing EeZee Conceptz of various wrongs. The label, however, has denied these allegations, maintaining that the real issue lies in attempts to unlawfully claim ownership of its music catalogue.

The label also revealed that its CEO, EeZee Tee, was detained for nine days during the dispute, during which its accounts were thoroughly investigated, and no wrongdoing was discovered.

The dispute has seen several failed mediation attempts, including multiple sessions where the focus shifted to the demand for master rights. EeZee Conceptz has maintained that it owns the catalogue in perpetuity and is only obligated to pay royalties to the artist under the terms of their agreement.