Lotto War: Kashamu Replies Lottery Operators Over Accusations

Lotto War: Kashamu Replies Lottery Operators Over Accusations

Prince Buruji Kashamu, A Former Senator And Promoter of Western Lotto

Prince Buruji Kashamu, Promoter of Western Lotto, has reacted to the allegations of alleged shady deal in the lotto industry, made against him by other operators in the country.

Kashamu, a former Senator of Federal Republic of Nigeria, who represented Ogun State East senatorial district at the last National Assembly, described the accusations as ‘laughable’.

Nigeria lotto operators under the auspices of Lotto Operators Association of Nigeria (LOAN) had accused Kashamu of having what they termed ‘an unholy alliance’ with the officials of National Lotto Regulation Commission (NLRC) to basterdise due process guiding the rules and regulations of the industry in Nigeria. 

To this end, the operators had vowed to take every legal steps to stop both Senator Kashamu and his cohorts in the NLRC from perpetrating alleged illegalities. 

The crux of the crisis between the major lotto operators and Kashamu is the ownership of the Ghana Games in Nigeria, which the lotto operators claimed to have been introduced to Nigeria by them.

According to operators, “just as the Ghana Games began popular acceptance in Nigeria, Kashamu appeared suddenly claiming exclusive ownership of the games”. 

They claimed further that Kasahmu is gunning for the collection of 40% from each operator operating the Ghana games. They said their resistance led to a litigation initiated by Kashamu. The other operators also raised their legal team to counter him in court. 

They claimed that a total of 25 lotto operators were taken to court by Kashamu, claiming exclusive ownership of the Ghana games from them while the NLRC is one of the respondents in the case. The case is ongoing in court. 

They however expressed surprise that Kashamu suddenly introduced a bizarre twist to the story, he is seeking an out of court settlement with the NLRC thereby leaving the other operators in the lurch. The question on the lips of many is: why would Kashamu seek an out of court settlement in a case he is the plaintiff? Not a few, particularly members of the lotto operators association, suspected foul play. 

Expressing their readiness to slug out with him in court, the lotto operators queried: Why Kashamu is in hurry for a back door out of court settlement? The other lotto operators said they are determined to see to the conclusion of the case in court. 

They said they have already written a petition to the House of Representatives Committee on Gaming which has commenced full investigation into the matter. They have not stopped – they have also sent petitions to the Senate and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, (SGF).

The lotto operators are also protesting alleged move by the NLRC to sign out of court agreement with Kashamu behind them. This, they said is very suspicious and inimical to the progress of other operators. Signing such agreement with him. There are claims and counter claims of money inducement among staff and management of the commission and Kashamu. 

The lotto operators have vowed not to waiver in their collective struggle to ensure that due process is not toy with by Kashamu and his cohorts in the NLRC.  

Reacting to the operators allegations, Senator Kashamu through his Media Aide,  Austin Oniyokor, said: “it is laughable that the so-called lottery operators claimed that “they worked hard to popularise the games and make them the favourites of lotto players in Nigeria”. 

“Clearly, they are not the owners of the games. Pray, how do you popularise what is not yours”? Kashamu queried.

Senator Kashamu also said that it is not in any operator’s place to determine how Western Lotto will conduct its case. While also call on them to return all the billions that they have deprived the government for over 20 years with their criminal and fraudulent dealings of illegally selling the Ghana games without making due remittances to the Federal Government. 
Below is Kashamu’s Media Aide response to the operators as culled from other media reports

“It is laughable that the so-called lottery operators claimed that “they worked hard to popularise the games and make them the favourites of lotto players in Nigeria. 

“Clearly, they are not the owners of the games. Pray, how do you popularise what is not yours?

“The truth is: over the years, the lottery operators in Nigeria have been making money from the Ghana games without paying neither the Federal Government nor the Ghana’s National Lottery Authority. 

“That was the situation until  Western Lotto Nigeria Limited approached the Ghanaian authorities and got the exclusive rights to the games.

“In essence, owners of the Ghana games have appointed Western Lotto as their representatives in Nigeria and given it the exclusive rights to the games.

“The rights does not exclude any interested operator from selling the games provided they go through Western Lotto – who are the sole rights owners to the Ghana games in Nigeria. 

“If anyone does not want to go through Western Lotto, in line with the best global practices and the judgement of the court,  such a person is at liberty to stop selling the games. 

“It is not in any operator’s place to determine how Western Lotto will conduct its case.

“They should return all the billions that they have deprived the government for over 20 years with their criminal and fraudulent dealings of illegally selling the Ghana games without making due remittances to the Federal Government”.