Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have explained why they raided Urban 94.5FM, one of the most popular radio stations in Enugu State.
The incident happened on Monday evening around 6:40 p.m. during a live programme.
The operatives stormed the station, disrupted live broadcast, and arrested four employees of the radio station, including a presenter identified as Favour Ekoh, and reportedly seized equipment worth millions of naira.
A staff of the station who spoke to our Correspondent on condition of anonymity said the EFCC has since released all the four staff arrested, along with the equipment and phones seized.
In a statement issued on Monday night, the management of the radio station said they were shocked about the anti-graft agency’s action.
EFCC’s Head Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, when contacted, confirmed the invasion with further explanation.
He said, “All the report that our people (EFCC) moved to the newsroom and carted their equipment, there’s nothing like that. I don’t know why people are interested in this kind of narrative.
“What happened is this, the fellow that was arrested is a suspect in Ponzi scheme where over 103 people were defrauded and unfortunately, the fellow happened to be a staff of that radio station.
“They [alleged victims] have written letters to her and all of that but she did not respond and because of the severity of the matter, the number of people involved, just imagine somebody a journalist getting involved in Ponzi scheme.
“So, they have to arrest her, brought her to our office to make a statement and they released her immediately. No equipment was taken, nothing was taken.
“It is normal way of our work. It is unfortunate that she is a journalist, but whether a journalist or whoever, a suspect is a suspect. I am even worried that media staff would engage in such kind of thing.”
A Ponzi scheme is an investment fraud that pays existing investors with funds collected from new investors. Ponzi scheme organizers often promise to invest your money and generate high returns with little or no risk. But in many Ponzi schemes, the fraudsters do not invest the money.
