The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) has issued a formal apology following the controversial raid by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Urban Radio 94.5 FM Enugu, which resulted in the arrest of presenter Favour Ekoh.
Susan Obi, NBC’s spokesperson, expressed the commission’s regret in a statement released Monday in Abuja.
The incident, which occurred on October 14 at approximately 6:48 p.m., has sparked a heated debate between the radio station and the anti-graft agency regarding the circumstances of the arrest.
“The NBC, hereby, expresses heartfelt apologies to the listening public, the people of Enugu State, and the entire broadcast industry for the incident,” Ms Obi stated, characterizing the EFCC’s actions as “a violation of the professional ethics of broadcasting, especially on a live broadcast.”
The controversy deepened when conflicting accounts emerged about the arrest.
While Urban Radio management claimed Ms Ekoh was arrested during a live broadcast, EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale countered this assertion, stating, “Ms Ekoh was not arrested during a live programme and that the EFCC operatives did not disrupt activities at the station.”
Mr Oyewale explained that the arrest was connected to an ongoing investigation by the EFCC’s Enugu Zonal Directorate into an alleged N700 million Ponzi scheme involving approximately 50 victims.
However, Urban Radio has stood firm on its version of events, posting on its X (formerly Twitter) handle that it possesses “strong evidence” of the programme’s interruption.
The station even shared a short recording demonstrating the disruption of their live broadcast during the operation.
NBC’s spokesperson emphasized that while the commission appreciates the EFCC’s anti-corruption efforts, their method of arrest at Urban Radio was inappropriate.
“The approach for which the arrest was carried out is improper. This action is regrettable, considering the impact of the broadcast media on the Society,” she said.
Ms Obi further warned that such actions could have potentially dangerous consequences, potentially leading to “public disorder, disturbance, aggravate mass panic and hysteria.”
The NBC spokesperson called on Nigerians to remain law-abiding while “the law takes its course” and urged media professionals to maintain high ethical standards in their work.