Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have arrested two staff members of Metrodigital Television Limited, operators of SLTV, in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, over alleged illegal rebroadcasting of DStv and GOtv content.
The anti-graft agency carried out the enforcement operation on Thursday at the company’s office located at No. 12 Order Street, Rumuola, Stadium Link Road, GRA Phase IV, Port Harcourt, following a preservation order issued by Justice Adamu Mohammed of the Federal High Court.
The court order empowered the EFCC to seize and preserve equipment, documents, and other materials linked to the suspected piracy. During the raid, EFCC operatives reportedly recovered broadcasting machines, decoders, transmission equipment, servers, and documents allegedly containing evidence of signal manipulation.
Two key staff—identified as Chinedu Nwaikwu, a director, and Uche Kanu, an engineer—were arrested after investigators found 22 decoders actively transmitting DStv and GOtv signals at the time of the raid.
Justice Mohammed’s order directed the EFCC to label and preserve all recovered items as exhibits, submit a detailed inventory, and provide photographic evidence of the seized materials.
The court further restrained Metrodigital Television Ltd, its Chief Executive Officer Ifeanyi John Nwafor, and associated firms—Denna Rossi Limited, Kristal Food and Beverages, and QTV Plus Limited—from accessing or transmitting DStv and GOtv content pending the conclusion of the case.
Additionally, a Post-No-Debit (PND) order was placed on several bank accounts linked to the company and its affiliates, suspected to hold proceeds of the alleged illegal rebroadcast. The EFCC was mandated to notify affected banks, retrieve account and BVN details, and preserve all related funds as potential evidence.
While the court declined the EFCC’s request to issue arrest warrants and INTERPOL watch-list notices for the defendants—on the grounds that they had yet to be formally arraigned—it permitted the agency to maintain control of the company’s premises and all seized assets.
In a compliance report to the court, the EFCC confirmed that all items have been secured and will be tendered as evidence at the next hearing, scheduled for October 22, 2025, when the defendants are expected to take their plea.