In a statement issued on Monday by Mrs Susan Obi, Director of Public Affairs, the NBC condemned the October 14 incident, where EFCC operatives disrupted a live programme to arrest presenter Favour Ekoh.
The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) has expressed concerns over the recent raid by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Urban Radio 94.5 FM, Enugu State.
In a statement issued on Monday by Mrs Susan Obi, Director of Public Affairs, the NBC condemned the October 14 incident, where EFCC operatives disrupted a live programme to arrest presenter Favour Ekoh.
“NBC differs with the manner of approach deployed by the anti-graft agency, which could have led to public disorder, disturbance, aggravated mass panic and hysteria,” Obi said.
"The NBC viewed the action as improper and regrettable, considering the critical role broadcast media plays in society.
“While the NBC appreciates EFCC for fighting financial crimes, it hereby expresses heartfelt apologies to the listening public, the people of Enugu State, and the entire broadcast industry for the incident,” Obi added.
She urged the public to remain law-abiding while encouraging media professionals to uphold ethical standards in their work.
Meanwhile, SaharaReporters earlier reported that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) clarified the raid on Urban 94.5FM, a popular radio station in Enugu State.
SaharaReporters also reported earlier that the anti-graft agency invaded the station during a live broadcast, allegedly seized some equipment worth millions of naira and arrested some staff including a presenter.
However, speaking with SaharaReporters in a telephone chat, Dele Oyewale, the Commission's Head of Media and Publicity, set the record straight.
According to Oyewale, the EFCC's Enugu Zonal Command only went to the station to arrest a journalist involved in a Ponzi fraud scheme after refusing to honour an invitation by the commission.
The suspect, according to him, whose name wasn't disclosed, was taken into custody, made a statement, and was released immediately.
Oyewale emphasised that nothing was removed from the station, contradicting earlier reports of seized equipment.
He said, "All the report that our people (EFCC) moved to the newsroom and carted their equipment, there's nothing like that.
"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.
"Investigative head; they have written letter 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.
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