Home » EFCC Speaks On Arrest At Urban Radio Station, Enugu

EFCC Speaks On Arrest At Urban Radio Station, Enugu

by Richard Anyebe

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC has cleared the air surrounding the arrest of a fraud suspect at Urban Radio Station, 94.5FM, Enugu.

The EFCC gave the name of the suspect as Favour Ekoh, who is the host of Prime Time, a programme running at the Station

Presenting the actual fact of what transpired at the station, the anti-graft agency said a team of its operatives from its Enugu Zonal Directorate were at the station on Monday October 14, 2024 to invite Ekoh.

A statement issued on Tuesday evening by its Spokesman, Dele Oyewale, the EFCC 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,” the statement reads.

“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.”

The statement disclosed that operatives of the EFCC at the radio station, holding a warrant of arrest for Ekoh, identified themselves as officers of the commission.

“They informed the Managing Director of the Station, Bamikole Owoyomi, about their mission” the statement 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.”

The commission further disclosed that
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 statement said.

The EFCC spokesman maintained that the commission 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 that “the precipitate and unlawful obstruction of officers of the commission from carrying out their duties, by staff of the Radio Station, is unacceptable.”

He added that besides, the professional credentials of Ekoh, a principal suspect in a Ponzi scheme to the tune of N700m affecting 50 innocent Nigerians, are questionable.

He called 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.

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