EKSG seals off radio station
Victor Akinkuolie, Ado-Ekiti
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The Ekiti State Government on Thursday shut down a private radio station named Our People’s FM 104.1FM for non- compliance with building erection regulation in the state.
The commercial radio station located at Fajuyi area of Ado-Ekiti began transmission in the state two months ago , was believed to be owned by the immediate past governor of the state, Mr. Ayodele Fayose.
The sealing which was carried out by the officials of the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development was led by the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Mr. Ademiloye Fasiku and other officials from the task force unit of the ministry.
The staff of the ministry, alongside policemen from the Counter Terrorism Unit, besieged the one -storey twin building at about 10:38am to paste the notice of closure on the wall.
The enforcement staff and the CTU operatives entered the building and ordered the workers out of the premises, which led to a confrontation between the Station’s General Manager, Mr Layi Oyawa, and the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Lands, Mr. Ademiloye Fasiku.
As the argument rages, the policemen ascended the staircase and ordered the staff to switch off the transmitter, saying the property has been shut down for contravening building development order.
General Manager of the station, Mr. Layi Oyawa, accused the security agencies of manhandling him and other staff of the station after they forcefully entered the premises to enforce the closure order.
It will be recalled that the operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), had last year December confiscated the building on the premises that it was fraudulently acquired by the former governor but was later reopened after the case was taken to court.
Speaking with newsmen, Fasiku said four letter had allegedly been written to the station on the need to comply with some laid down regulations, but that those pleads were rebuffed.
Fasiku said: “We are here basically to enforce compliance with urban development plan of government. We have given them notices but they never responded. We asked them to submit their approved plan for clearance, but nothing was done.”
The GM of the station, Layi Oyawa, described the alleged Gestapo manner with which the station was closed down as unfortunate and brutish.
Also responding, Fayose, in a statement by his Media Aide , Lere Olayinka, advised Fayemi-led administration in the state to stop acting like tyrant.