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EFCC raids Port Harcourt firm, Metrodigital TV, arrests two for alleged content piracy

EFCC

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested two officials of Metrodigital Television Limited, operators of SLTV, over alleged illegal rebroadcasting of DStv and GOtv content in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

The operation was carried out on Thursday at No. 12 Order Street, Rumuola, Stadium Link Road, GRA Phase IV, following a preservation order issued by Justice Adamu Mohammed of the Federal High Court, Port Harcourt, empowering the EFCC to seize all equipment and documents linked to the suspected piracy.

During the enforcement exercise, EFCC operatives reportedly recovered broadcasting machines, decoders, transmission equipment, servers, and documents said to contain evidence of signal manipulation. Those arrested were identified as Chinedu Nwaikwu, a director at the company, and Uche Kanu, an engineer in the transmission room, who were allegedly caught operating 22 decoders used for illegal transmissions.

The court directed the EFCC to label and preserve all seized materials as exhibits and to submit a detailed inventory and photographic documentation of the items. Staff members present at the facility were also interrogated and asked to make formal statements.

In addition, the court restrained Metrodigital Television, its Chief Executive Officer, Ifeanyi John Nwafor, and affiliated firms—Denna Rossi Limited, Kristal Food and Beverages, and QTV Plus Limited—from accessing or transmitting DStv and GOtv signals pending the conclusion of the case.

A post-no-debit (PND) order was also placed on several bank accounts allegedly linked to proceeds from the suspected piracy, including those belonging to Nwafor, Metrodigital Television/SLTV, Denna Rossi Limited, Kristal Food and Beverages, and QTV Plus Limited. The EFCC was further directed to obtain bank verification details and preserve all funds as suspected proceeds of crime.

However, the court declined an EFCC request for an arrest warrant and INTERPOL watch-listing of the defendants, noting that they had not yet been formally arraigned.

According to the EFCC’s compliance report, all seized materials have been securely preserved and will be presented as evidence when the case resumes on October 22, 2025, for plea and continuation of trial.

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