In response to news of anti-corruption agency agents breaking into the radio station, the SPJ-hub made the demand in a statement released on Tuesday by Melody Akinjiyan, its Press Freedom Officer.

The EFCC officials who broke into the Urban Radio Station (94.5FM) broadcast house in Enugu on Monday night are the subject of an urgent investigation and prosecution, according to a demand made by the International Press Centre (IPC) through its Safety and Protection of Journalists (SPJ) hub.

The demand was made by the SPJ-hub in a statement released on Tuesday by Melody Akinjiyan, its Press Freedom Officer, in response to the news that anti-corruption agency officers had broken into the radio station.

“The officials overpowered the station staff who they allegedly intimidated with arms, forced them to sit on the bare floor, took their phones, and went straights into the station’s live studio and whisked away the anchor of the interactive program, PRIME TIME, that was going on live at the time of the invasion,” according to Akinjiyan, who also said that the organisation was informed of this.

The invasion of the radio station was justified by the EFCC in a statement released on Tuesday and signed by Mr. Dele Oyewale, Head of Media and Publicity.

“One Favour Ekoh, host of Prime Time, a show airing at the station, was invited by a team of operatives from the Enugu Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Monday, October 14, 2024,” the statement said. The team consisted of four officers.

The commission claims that a fictitious Ponzi scheme involving N700 million is the reason Ekoh is under investigation.

“The Enugu Zonal Directorate of the EFCC is investigating Ekoh in an alleged N700 million Ponzi scheme fraud involving approximately fifty (50) victims,” he stated.

The victims claim that Ekoh tricked them into participating in a scam called “Life Trading” at Leverage Index Limited, promising them returns on their investment of 10% of their initial investment over time.

The victims claimed that the business, which was based at No. 1 Colliery Street, Okpara Avenue, Enugu State, closed its doors without giving them their money back or a return on their investment.

“Ekoh was purportedly the only person the victims could connect with after she invited them inside the company.”

The management of the radio station allegedly attempted to stop its employees from arresting Ekoh even though they had an arrest warrant, according to the anti-graft agency.

However, in a statement, Mr. Lanre Arogundade, the IPC’s Executive Director, stated, “This action is highly condemnable as it constitutes a despicable assault on the media and crass abuse of power.”

The EFCC and security agencies have recently chosen to use extrajudicial jungle techniques to air any concerns they may have, as seen by the recent trend of attacks on journalists.”

As a result, SPJ-Hub urged Mr. Ola Olukoyede, the chairman of the EFCC, to look into the event and make sure that the officials involved face consequences for their “unprofessional action.”

“This will additionally guarantee that additional officers gain knowledge from this occurrence, and the Commission ought to instruct its staff on lawful methods of executing their authorities,” the group stated.

The group also denounced the recent assault that left a few journalists in Bayelsa State with injuries.

The group reported that several hired goons attacked the journalists during a news conference held in Yenagoa, the state capital, by the Sagbama Local Government Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC).