The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC has denied harassing the Staff of Urban Radio 94.5 Fm in Enugu during a sting operation on one Favour Ekoh, host of Prime Time, a programme running at the Station.
The EFCC which said this in a statement says its Operatives have conducted themselves professionally with a warrant of arrest for Ekoh after identifying themselves as Officers of the Anti-graft Agency.
The EFCC says Ekoh is being investigated by its Enugu Zonal Directorate in an alleged N700 million Ponzi scheme fraud involving about fifty victims, and 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 victims alleged that after investing their money into the company located at No. 1 Colliery Street, Okpara Avenue in 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 remained the only link the victims could hold.
The EFCC says its Operatives had informed the Managing Director of the Station, Bamikole Owoyomi about their mission but 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 who locked them within the premises of the Station.
The Commission which stressed 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 explained that she was neither arrested while on air nor any disruption of the lawful activities of the Radio Station.
The EFCC says no equipment of the Station was tampered with and Ekoh has since been released after being allowed to make a Statement at its 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 but have since been released.
The EFCC says it 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.
The EFCC asks 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.
AIT
