Veteran television host Frank Edoho has dismissed long-standing claims that he was sacked from Who Wants To Be A Millionaire, revealing that the popular quiz show temporarily went off air after its major sponsor withdrew following a Federal Government sanction.

Speaking on an episode of The KK Show, published on Sunday, Edoho said reports suggesting he was dropped from the programme were inaccurate and stemmed from speculation surrounding the show’s temporary hiatus.

Reflecting on his career, Edoho recalled spending four years at the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (Radio Nigeria) before moving into television, a transition he said brought him widespread recognition.

“I worked for Radio Nigeria for four years. You can work on radio for years without getting the level of popularity television can give you in just a month,” he said.

Explaining what led to the show’s suspension, Edoho said its longtime sponsor, which had supported the programme for a decade, was forced to pull out after being hit with a substantial fine by the Federal Government over a corporate regulatory issue.

According to him, the financial impact of the penalty made it impossible for the company to continue funding the show.

“The sponsor told us they could no longer continue because they had to pay an incredible sum of money to the Federal Government,” he explained, adding that he could not disclose further details about the matter.

Edoho revealed that when discussions began for a relaunch with a new sponsor, he sought to become an executive producer and secure an ownership stake in the programme, believing his 13-year tenure had made him an integral part of the brand.

However, negotiations failed after both parties were unable to reach an agreement. His absence from the revived show fuelled media reports that he had been dismissed, a claim he insists was false.

“One newspaper reported that I had been dropped because I wasn’t part of the relaunch. That wasn’t true. I felt I was thrown under the bus after all the years I dedicated to the show,” he said.

Edoho originally hosted Who Wants To Be A Millionaire from 2004 to 2017 before leaving the programme. The show returned in 2022 after a five-year break, featuring a revamped format, bigger cash prizes and new sponsors, with Edoho returning as host.