Music producer DaveedSkalez has weighed in on the controversy between gospel singer Mercy Chinwo and her former record label boss, EezeeTee, accusing him of running his label like a mafia.

The producer made the claim while responding to a post on Vocal.media, where Chinwo had alleged that EezeeTee sought to control her relationships within the industry and attempted to turn her against his rivals.

Chinwo had accused the label boss of forcing his artistes to inherit his enemies, revealing that she was pressured to sever ties with certain individuals, including gospel ministers Nathaniel Bassey and Jerry Eze. She further alleged that he orchestrated false reports about her family, including claims that her son was not hers.

“One of my major ‘crimes’ was when I did a song with Pastor Nathaniel Bassey because this man hates Pastor Nathaniel Bassey,” she wrote. “You went as far as sponsoring fake news about an innocent child—my son—and you said my son was not my son. You even paid bloggers. Because you hate Pastor Jerry Eze, you didn’t want me to go for his event. The people you fight, I must fight them with you. And when I ask you questions like, ‘Why don’t you like them?’ you start harassing me.”

Backing Chinwo’s claims, DaveedSkalez described the label as operating more like a cult than a gospel organisation.

“It is part of the system at Eezee Concept Global that you must inherit the boss’s enemies. Anyone who has worked or is working there can attest to this,” he said.

He alleged that artistes who refused to conform were subjected to internal sabotage, smear campaigns, and emotional distress.

“Your colleagues will be deployed to fight against you. They become the weapon fashioned against you. A lot of fake social media accounts were created to manage scandalous issues or defend the mischief of the system. The emotional trauma that comes with not agreeing with the decision of the boss is next to none.”

He added that speaking out was necessary to prevent a “pattern of abuse” from continuing.

“I had to drop this here because I understand that silence in situations like this is an endorsement of an evil pattern,” he said. “I pray the other artistes in there don’t experience this. Indeed, God cannot be mocked—for whatever a man sows, that he shall reap.”

The controversy surrounding EezeeTee and his label has sparked debate within the gospel music industry, with fans and insiders calling for greater transparency in contractual agreements and artiste management.

The Guardian made attempts to reach out to EezeeTee for his side of the story but calls and messages went unanswered before we went to press.