Anti-Crimes Commission raids radio station, arrests presenter during live programme

Maureen Edozie in Enugu

The operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have raided Urban FM, a popular radio station in Enugu State and arrested a presenter during a live programme, an incident which happened on Monday at about 6:35 p.m.

Penpushing reports that the management of the radio confirmed the development in a statement. Explaining that the arrested presenter was identified as Favour Ekoh said to have been forced out of the studio during the live programme.

“The Board and Management of Urban Radio 94.5 FM Enugu regrets the abrupt halting and disruption of our programme at about 6:45 p.m. this Monday evening. Armed men identified as EFCC (operatives) had barged into the studio and interrupted the live programme, Prime Times, forcefully abducted our presenters and took away our communications equipment for reasons they vehemently refused to disclose,” the statement read.

Penpushing further reports that the management of the station in the statement described the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) action as unethical and vowed to follow up on the matter.

The Head, Media and Publicity of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Dele Oyewale when contacted on Tuesday confirmed the development, explaining that the operatives were at the radio station to arrest Ekoh over her alleged involvement in a Ponzi scheme through which over 103 Nigerians were defrauded.

Penpushing also reports that Oyewale added that Ekoh had rebuffed several invitations from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) which prompted the arrest after the operatives heard her voice on the radio.

The agency spokesperson stated that contrary to the radio station’s claim, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) operatives did not use any force and did not cart away any equipment during the operation.

“Immediately she was arrested, she was taken to our office. She was asked to make a statement and she was released immediately,” They are just trying to blackmail us and raise issues where there are no issues,” he said.

‘On Monday, October 14, 2024 a team of operatives of the Enugu Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, comprising four officers were at Urban Radio 94.5FM, Enugu to invite one Favour Ekoh, host of Prime Time, a programme running at the Station’, the statement said.

‘Ekoh is being investigated by the Enugu Zonal Directorate of the EFCC in an alleged N700 million Ponzi scheme fraud involving about fifty (50) victims. According to the victims, Ekoh allegedly lured them into investing in a scheme “Life Trading” in a company, Leverage Index Limited, where they were offered returns on investment of 10 percent of their capitals after a period of time’, Oyewale stated.

‘The victims alleged that after investing their money into the company located at No. 1 Colliery Street, Okpara Avenue, Enugu State, the company closed its office with no return on investment or principal returned to the victims.  Ekoh allegedly invited the victims into the business and she remained the only link the victims could hold’, Oyewole wrote.

‘At the Radio Station, operatives of the Commission, holding a warrant of arrest for Ekoh, identified themselves as officers of the EFCC. They informed the Managing Director of the Station, Bamikole Owoyomi, about their mission’, he added

‘However, in a rather strange twist, a staff of the station called the Chairman of the Radio Station who ordered that the gate of the building be locked in and out, thereby holding the officers hostage.  Faced with such hostility, they called for a rescue team which eventually arrested Omoyomi,  Ekoh  and the two security guards that locked them within the premises of the Station’.

‘Ekoh had to be trailed to the Station for an arrest because the nature of the fraudulent dealings necessitated a sting operation that would foreclose her escape or going underground.  She was neither arrested while on air nor any disruption of the lawful activities of the Radio Station took place’.

‘No equipment of the Station was tampered with and she has since been released after being allowed to make a statement at the Enugu office. Owoyomi and the two security guards were arrested for obstruction of justice as they initially prevented the operatives from carrying out their official duty. They also made statements to that effect and had since been released’.

‘The EFCC holds the media in high esteem both as the fourth estate of the realm and critical stakeholder in the fight against economic and financial crimes and other acts of corruption, but the precipitate and unlawful obstruction of officers of the commission from carrying out their duties, by staff of the Radio Station, is unacceptable’.

‘Besides, the professional credentials of Ekoh, a principal suspect in a Ponzi scheme to the tune of N700m affecting 50 innocent Nigerians, are questionable.  The commission hereby calls on the International Press Institute, IPI, and the Nigerian Union of Journalists, NUJ, to investigate the conduct of the station in the light of integrity and ethical professional practice’,  Oyewale added

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