Heavily armed Operatives reportedly from the Economics and Financial Crimes Commission(EFCC) Monday ,night invaded the broadcast House of Urban Radio Station 94.5FM, Enugu, allegedly overpowered the staff, collected their phones ,went into the studio and disrupted a live program anchored by an On Air Personality, Favour Eko and whisked her away.
Their action , disruption of a live program was condemned by both Journalists and members of the Public.
Though the reason for the arrest was not very clear, the manner the agents stormed the studio and stopped a live program was condemned and described as “barbaric”.
Many people wondered why the EFCC “operatives” went about the arrest in a very wrong manner, without firstly, inviting the Favour Eko to their office.
An Audience , Emeka Okafor said the action of the EFCC was condemnable. He said, ” No matter what Favour had done, the EFCC officials were not supposed to enter the studio to stop a live program. It is wrong’.”
Another Audience, Michael Igwe said “it was very embarrassing. What the EFCC officers did was wrong. What if the live program was sponsored, will they refund the sponsor his money? Management of Urban Radio should take an action against them. It is terrible.
Media practitioners viewed the invasion of the studio and disruption of a live program by the operatives of the EFCC as a slap to the media profession. They said the operatives should have sent an invite to Ekoh first and not to invade the studio.
The information of the arrest trending online as received reads:
“Heavily armed people believed to be agents or officials of EFCC this evening invaded the broadcast house of Urban Radio Station, Enugu, on Frequency Modulation (FM) band 94.5FM, overpowered the staff of the station whom they allegedly intimidated with arms, forced them to sit on the bare floor, took their phones, and went straight into the Live studio of the station and whisked away the Anchor of the Live interactive programme, PRIME TIME, that was going on LIve at the time of the invasion, Favour Ekoh.”
Question was raised; “Has the country gone gaga that an anti financial crime agency would be taking laws into their hands to intimidate media houses and their staff, as if the country is in Police or Gestapo state.
14/10/2024.”
The information attracted reactions from media practitioners and some members of the public and contacts were made to get the EFCC for confirmation of the alleged invasion and arrest .
It was gathered that ,the arrest ” involves an online trading scheme that the anchor always advertises”
It was said that ,”The company has reportedly absconded with people’s money and the victims reported to the EFCC, hence the arrest”.
Further inquiries were made and very senior officers of the EFCC contacted to speak on the arrest said they were not aware of that. They promised to investigate and get back to the reporter.
As at the time of filing this report, they had not called back. Another call was made to another senior management staff( names withheld )who said, ” no , no, it’s not true . They stopped a live program? No, no, it’s not true. . I will find out. I will get back to you.”
Meanwhile, calls to some staff of Urban Radio to get them speak on the arrest could not be picked as their lines were engaged. The good news is that after about one hour, another call was made to a staff of Urban Radio who confirmed the story , she said Favour had been released . ” Yes, EFCC officials stormed our office. They disrupted a life program. We called our Chairman and he took it up. She has been released. Favour has gone home”