We Arrested Prime Time Host In Enugu Radio Station Over ₦700m Fraud - EFCC
https://osazuwaakonedo.news/we-arrested-prime-time-host-in-enugu-radio-station-over-%e2%82%a6700m-fraud-efcc/15/10/2024/
#Breaking News #EFCC #Ekoh #Enugu #Favour #UrbanRadio ©October 15th, 2024 ®October 16, 2024 9:31 am Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC has stated that its personnel moved into Urban Radio station on Monday evening to effect the arrest of Prime Time Programme Host, Favour Ekoh following allegation of fraud she allegedly committed. #OsazuwaAkonedo
https://osazuwaakonedo.news/we-arrested-prime-time-host-in-enugu-radio-station-over-%e2%82%a6700m-fraud-efcc/15/10/2024/
#Breaking News #EFCC #Ekoh #Enugu #Favour #UrbanRadio ©October 15th, 2024 ®October 16, 2024 9:31 am Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC has stated that its personnel moved into Urban Radio station on Monday evening to effect the arrest of Prime Time Programme Host, Favour Ekoh following allegation of fraud she allegedly committed. #OsazuwaAkonedo
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NewsTranscript
00:00Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC has stated that its personnel moved into
00:06a van radio station on Monday evening to effect the arrest of primetime program host,
00:11Fervor Echo following allegation of fraud she allegedly committed.
00:16EFCC in a statement on Tuesday said the managing director of the radio station,
00:22two security guards who locked the gate against EFCC officials were arrested alongside Fervor Echo.
00:29The EFCC statement reads,
00:31On Monday, October 14, 2024, a team of operatives of the Enugu Zonal Directorate of the Economic
00:39and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, comprising four officers, were at or by radio 94.5 FM
00:48Enugu to invite one Fervor Echo, host of Primetime, a program running at the station.
00:54Echo is being investigated by the Enugu Zonal Directorate of the EFCC in an alleged 700
01:01million naira ponzi scheme fraud involving about 50, 50 victims.
01:06According to the victims, Echo allegedly lured them into investing in a scheme,
01:12live trading, in a company, Leverage Index Limited, where they were offered returns on
01:18investment of 10% of their capital after a period of time.
01:23The victims alleged that after investing their money into the company located at No. 1 Colliery
01:29Street, Opera Avenue, Enugu State, the company closed its office with no return on investment
01:36or principal return to the victims. Echo allegedly invited the victims into the business and she
01:42remained the only link the victims could hold. At the radio station, operatives of the commission,
01:49holding a warrant of arrest for Echo, identified themselves as officers of the EFCC.
01:56They informed the managing director of the station, Bamiko Owoyumi, about their mission.
02:03However, in a rather strange twist, a staff of the station called the chairman of the radio
02:09station who ordered that the gates of the building be locked in and out, thereby holding the officers
02:15hostage. First with such hostility, the call for a rescue team which eventually arrested Owoyumi,
02:22Echo and the two security guards who locked them within the premises of the station.
02:28Echo had to be trailed to the station for arrest because the nature of the fraudulent dealings
02:33necessitated a sting operation that would foreclose her escape or go underground.
02:38She was neither arrested while on earth nor any disruption of the lawful activities of the radio
02:44station took place. No equipment of the station was tampered with and she has since been released
02:50after being allowed to make a statement at the Enugu office. Owoyumi and the two security guards
02:57were arrested for obstruction of justice as they initially prevented the operatives from carrying
03:02out their official duties. They also made statements to that effect and have since been released.
03:09The EFCC holds the media in high esteem both as the fourth estate of the realm and a critical
03:15stakeholder in the fight against economic and financial crimes and other acts of corruption,
03:21but the precipitate and unlawful obstruction of officers of the commission from carrying out their
03:26duties by staff of the radio station is unacceptable. Besides, the professional credentials of Echo,
03:34a principal suspect in a Ponzi scheme to the tune of 700 million nairas affecting 50 innocent
03:40Nigerians, are questionable. The commission hereby calls on the International Press Institute,
03:47IPI, and the Nigerian Union of Journalists, NUJ, to investigate the conduct of the station in the
03:55light of integrity and ethical professional practice. Dele Oyewole held media and publicity
04:02status in a statement.