The Kano Concerned Citizens Initiative (KCCI) has officially petitioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to investigate Arewa24 TV, a US-owned TV channel operating in Nigeria, on allegations of severe economic and financial misconduct.
In a statement issued yesterday, signed by KCCI spokesperson, Sayeedi Umar Ahmed, KCCI accused the television network of engaging in tax evasion, capital flight, money-laundering, and other sharp practices that reportedly violate Nigerian laws.
According to the petition, KCCI claims that Arewa24 TV has been conducting its media and advertising business in Nigeria illegally, thereby undermining the countrys regulatory frameworks with what they described as “arrogance and impunity”. The group alleges that the foreign directors and shareholders of the TV channel are intentionally circumventing local laws, a practice they believe should not go unchecked.
The concerned citizens group called on the EFCC to carry out a thorough forensic investigation into the activities of Arewa24 TV, invoking specific sections of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (Establishment) Act, 2004, to support their petition.
The petition cited Section 6(h) and Section 7(1(a)) of the EFCC Act, which empower the Commission to investigate individuals or corporate bodies suspected of engaging in economic and financial crimes. Section 6(h) of the Act provides the EFCC with the authority to probe allegations of misconduct, while Section 7(1(a)) allows the Commission to investigate whether any person or organisation has committed offenses under Nigerian law.
The statement read in part: “We write to request an investigation into the allegations against Arewa24 TV with the aim of uncovering and eradicating economic and financial corruption. The illegal actions of the foreign directors and shareholders must be met with the full force of the law, if found guilty”.
The group further accused Arewa24 TV of not only evading taxes but also siphoning funds out of Nigeria through illicit channels, thereby contributing to capital flight and financial instability in the country. KCCI insists that if the allegations are proven true, the EFCC should impose appropriate sanctions to deter similar practices by other foreign-owned enterprises operating in Nigeria.
The petition is seen as a significant move by KCCI to push for accountability in Nigeria’s media and advertising sector, particularly against entities suspected of operating outside the bounds of local regulations.
As of the time of this report, neither Arewa 24 nor the EFCC has responded to the allegations or confirmed any ongoing investigations. However, the case is likely to attract public and regulatory scrutiny, given the severity of the accusations and the potential implications for Nigeria’s economic interests.
