EFCC details incident of arrest at Urban Radio Enugu

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has provided clarification regarding the arrest of a radio presenter, Favour Ekoh, at Urban Radio 94.5 FM in Enugu on Monday, October 14, 2024.

The arrest, which involved a team of four EFCC operatives from the Enugu Zonal Directorate, was connected to an ongoing investigation into a N700 million Ponzi scheme.

Ekoh, the host of the radio show Prime Time, is being investigated for her alleged involvement in defrauding around 50 victims through a scheme known as “Life Trading.”

The scheme, managed by a company called Leverage Index Limited, promised investors a 10 percent return on their capital after a set period. However, after the victims invested their money, the company, located at No. 1 Colliery Street, Okpara Avenue, Enugu, closed its office without returning any funds.

According to the victims, Ekoh was the primary individual who encouraged them to invest in the fraudulent scheme, and she became the only link to the business after it collapsed.

Upon arriving at Urban Radio to serve an arrest warrant for Ekoh, EFCC operatives identified themselves to the station’s Managing Director, Bamikole Owoyomi, and explained the purpose of their visit.

However, the situation took an unexpected turn when a staff member of the radio station contacted the station’s Chairman, who allegedly ordered the building’s gates to be locked, trapping the EFCC officers inside.

Faced with the obstruction, the EFCC team called for backup. As a result, Owoyomi, Ekoh, and two security guards responsible for locking the gate were arrested. The EFCC emphasized that Ekoh had been tracked to the radio station in a carefully planned operation to prevent her from evading arrest.

Contrary to rumors, the EFCC clarified that Ekoh was not arrested while on air, and there was no disruption to the station’s regular activities. No equipment was tampered with during the operation. Ekoh, along with Owoyomi and the two security guards, has since been released after making statements to EFCC officials.

In its official statement, signed by the Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, the EFCC condemned the actions of the radio station’s staff, describing the obstruction of law enforcement officers as “unacceptable.”

The commission called on media organizations, including the International Press Institute (IPI) and the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), to investigate the conduct of Urban Radio in light of professional integrity and ethical standards.

Ekoh’s alleged involvement in the N700 million Ponzi scheme remains under investigation, with the EFCC committed to uncovering the full details of the case and ensuring justice for the victims.