29 Oct SANCTIONS FOR UNREGISTERED PROMOTIONAL LOTTERIES

The Enforcement Team of the National Lottery Regulatory Commission headquarters in Abuja embarked on a four-day trip to Lagos on Tuesday September 24, 2013 to carry out enforcement exercise on some companies for failure to regularise their promotional lotteries despite several warnings by National Lottery Regulatory Commission.

However, before the commencement of the exercise, some of the companies quickly complied to avoid the wrath of the Commission. only Eko Supreme Resources Nigeria Limited Apapa which was eventually sealed by the team. 

Eko Supreme Resources Nigeria Limited is located at Apapa Lagos, failed to regularise its promotions despite several letters to them by the commission. Four of the company’s staff were arrested during the exercise and detained at Apapa Police Station. 

Commenting on the exercise, the Assistant Director, Enforcement and Compliance Mr Henry Uwaidiae said the Commission had to carry out the enforcement on them because they had operated lottery without regularising it with the Commission. He explained that several letters were written to these companies but they refused to acknowledge any, instead they went ahead to run the promos. 

Uwadiae said the Commission had no other option but to carry-out the enforcement and seal-up their companies. He added that some of the companies have complied while one that was yet to comply would remain under lock and key until it complied to the rules of the game.

“Those who have their issues resolved before the exercise commenced were not sealed – up. They complied and paid the necessary charges before the exercise and we felt there was no need sealing their premises,” he said.

Uwaidiae,  commended the Nigeria Police for their assistance during the exercise, stating that there was a new dawn at the Commission. He said the exercise was an indication that the era of impunity was over. The enforcement officer advised those wishing to do lottery business to get permission from the Commission before embarking on it , adding that  National Lottery Regulatory Commission  would not hesitate to sanction any company that refuses to toe the line of honour.

Chinyere Odinukwe who was on the team reported that the enforcement exercise caught up with S.C. Johnson Nigeria Limited one of the companies to be sealed up but the firm quickly complied. According to the report, the unexpected visit of the National Lottery Regulatory Commission enforcement team to the company spurred a staff pandemonium but was brought under control by the team of the Police men from Oshodi division. 

It was also reported that Winlot Nigeria Limited and Rosobon Financial Services registered with the Lagos State government.  

Rosobon Financial Services claimed that it registered with Lagos State Government because the Commission did not respond to its letter. But Mr Uwadiae said the Commission was discussing with the Lagos State Government on the two companies. 

The enforcement exercise was carried out in conjunction with a team from  National Lottery Regulatory Commission, Lagos Zonal office headed by the Coordinator, Mr. Fidelis Ajibogun.

By Bethrand Nwankwo & Chinyere Odinukwe