Court Bars Premier Lotto, Others From Selling Ghana Games in Nigeria


A Federal High Court, Lagos, today (Friday) made interlocutory orders restraining Premier Lotto Limited and 22 other lottery outfits in Nigeria from operating and using Ghana Games lottery products.


The court also made an interlocutory order restraining the National Lottery Regulatory Commission (NLRC) from revoking Western Lotto Limited's lottery licence or take any step to prevent it from operating the Ghana Games products.


The court, presided by Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke, also made an order of interlocutory injunction restraining Registrar of Trade Marks, its agents, servants and privies, from registering for Premier Lotto Limited and others any lotto games that have Ghana Games Lotto products.

The court also granted an order of interlocutory injunction restraining Premier Lotto and others, "and all members of the class of persons represented by the defendants whether acting by themselves, their servants, agents, privies or assigns, including their super agents, principal agents or sub agents from using the trade names and trade marks that are associated with the Ghana Games lottery products, including Monday Special Lotto, Lucky Tuesday Lotto, Midweek Lotto, Fortune Lotto, Friday Bonanza Lotto, Saturday National Lotto, VAG Lotto and Super 6 Lotto in Nigeria pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit."

The court further restrained the defendants from passing off their own lottery products/games as Ghana Games lottery products through the sale and distribution of the Ghana Games and the use of the draw numbers of the Ghana National Lottery Authority (NLA).

Others restrained by the court's interlocutory injunction alongside Premier Lotto Limited are: Secure Electronic Technology Limited; Richwell Plaza Limited; Peoples Empowerment Lottery Limited;Gab Lotto Limited; Payday Lotteries Limited and R&S Lotto Limited; Capstar Entertainment International Limited.


Others include: Winners Golden Chance Lotto; EG&H Integrated Concepts Limited; Global Lottery Limited; Fortune Games Limited, EMI Systems Limited; Mobile Lottery Nigeria Limited; Wesco Pools and Lottery Limited; Give and Take Lottery and Brentwood Multiservices Global Limited; International Lottery and Gaming Limited; Winlot Global Resources Limited; Lottomania Nigeria Limited; Derby Lotto Limited; K.C. Lottery Company Limited and K.C. Gaming Networks Limited.

Justice Aneke, however, refused Western Lotto Nigeria Limited's request to destroy all the products, equipment and games of the firms offering lottery products styled the Ghana games products - in breach of Western Lotto Nigeria Limited's exclusive rights to use the trade names and trademarks associated with the Ghana Games Lotto products.

The judge gave the orders after dismissing several preliminary objections filed by 25 respondents in the suit.

The respondents in their various preliminary objections have asked the court to decline jurisdiction on the matter as well as strike out Western Lotto Nigeria Limited's suit against them for been incompetent.

Meanwhile, hearing in the suit marked FHC/L/CL/2321/19, has been adjourned till May 28, 2020.

Court Bars Premier Lotto, Others From Selling Ghana Games in Nigeria


A Federal High Court, Lagos, today (Friday) made interlocutory orders restraining Premier Lotto Limited and 22 other lottery outfits in Nigeria from operating and using Ghana Games lottery products.


The court also made an interlocutory order restraining the National Lottery Regulatory Commission (NLRC) from revoking Western Lotto Limited's lottery licence or take any step to prevent it from operating the Ghana Games products.


The court, presided by Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke, also made an order of interlocutory injunction restraining Registrar of Trade Marks, its agents, servants and privies, from registering for Premier Lotto Limited and others any lotto games that have Ghana Games Lotto products.

The court also granted an order of interlocutory injunction restraining Premier Lotto and others, "and all members of the class of persons represented by the defendants whether acting by themselves, their servants, agents, privies or assigns, including their super agents, principal agents or sub agents from using the trade names and trade marks that are associated with the Ghana Games lottery products, including Monday Special Lotto, Lucky Tuesday Lotto, Midweek Lotto, Fortune Lotto, Friday Bonanza Lotto, Saturday National Lotto, VAG Lotto and Super 6 Lotto in Nigeria pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit."

The court further restrained the defendants from passing off their own lottery products/games as Ghana Games lottery products through the sale and distribution of the Ghana Games and the use of the draw numbers of the Ghana National Lottery Authority (NLA).

Others restrained by the court's interlocutory injunction alongside Premier Lotto Limited are: Secure Electronic Technology Limited; Richwell Plaza Limited; Peoples Empowerment Lottery Limited;Gab Lotto Limited; Payday Lotteries Limited and R&S Lotto Limited; Capstar Entertainment International Limited.


Others include: Winners Golden Chance Lotto; EG&H Integrated Concepts Limited; Global Lottery Limited; Fortune Games Limited, EMI Systems Limited; Mobile Lottery Nigeria Limited; Wesco Pools and Lottery Limited; Give and Take Lottery and Brentwood Multiservices Global Limited; International Lottery and Gaming Limited; Winlot Global Resources Limited; Lottomania Nigeria Limited; Derby Lotto Limited; K.C. Lottery Company Limited and K.C. Gaming Networks Limited.

Justice Aneke, however, refused Western Lotto Nigeria Limited's request to destroy all the products, equipment and games of the firms offering lottery products styled the Ghana games products - in breach of Western Lotto Nigeria Limited's exclusive rights to use the trade names and trademarks associated with the Ghana Games Lotto products.

The judge gave the orders after dismissing several preliminary objections filed by 25 respondents in the suit.

The respondents in their various preliminary objections have asked the court to decline jurisdiction on the matter as well as strike out Western Lotto Nigeria Limited's suit against them for been incompetent.

Meanwhile, hearing in the suit marked FHC/L/CL/2321/19, has been adjourned till May 28, 2020.

WESTERN LOTTO TACKLES COMMISSION OVER THE BAN OF FOREIGN LOTTERY GAMES
…Describes action as “null and void”

A frontline gaming company, Western Lotto Nigeria Limited, has reacted to the news of the purported prohibition of foreign lottery games in Nigeria by the National Lottery Regulatory Commission (NLRC), describing it as “ill-advised, counter-productive and null and void.

The company said the lottery commission cannot by a mere pronouncement confer on itself the powers that the enabling Act or the National Assembly did not confer on it; more so when the matter is before the court.

Western Lotto, which recently became the sole rights owners of the Ghana Games in Nigeria, said the action of the Lanre Gbajabiamila-led Commission was “unreasonable and myopic as it was taken not in the interest of the public but that of a tiny clique and mafia in the lottery business in Nigeria who have always manipulated the Commission to do its bidding and continue short-changing the Federal Government of trillions of naira whereas only about N9 billion has been paid as taxes and remittances in twelve years.”

In a statement signed by its General Manager, Mr. Tajudeen Usman, Western Lotto said the Commission does not have the powers to stop stakers and private businesses from patronising foreign lottery games, just as it does not have the powers to stop stakers from betting on the outcomes of foreign leagues.

The statement reads in part, “We strongly believe that the unilateral decision of the National Lottery Regulatory Commission (NLRC) without recourse to the enabling Act and due consultations with stakeholders cannot stand in the face of the law. It is even more so that the Commission took this step after we have joined issues in court over the Ghana Games and other matters related to it.

“The unwholesome decision to stop the sales or promotion of foreign games gives the Commission and its leadership away as supporting the mafia in the gaming industry in order to continue to short-change the Federal Government. It is too obvious and not good for their reputation. They should be an advocates who will join hands with Western Lotto in the campaign to sanitise the gaming industry, recover all the trillions that the Federal Government has been deprived of and return same to the coffers of the Government. But, unfortunately, the reverse is the case. How can the DG be in support of this?

“We recall that when the present Director-General of the Commission held sway at the Lagos State Lottery Board, he issued the state's licence and vigorously defended it for operators to use it to operate in Lagos State against the national licence. That allowed and still allows operators to play Ghana Games and indoor games with the state's licence. Other states also took a cue from Lagos State and did the same thing - they issued their own licences. Most lottery operators have licences from the states where they operate without recourse to the national licence.

“You cannot stop other states or stop any operator from using the state licences to sell foreign lotteries, including Ghana games. We had hoped that the Commission will support Western Lotto to bring sanity and proper coordination into the industry by keying into its platform as the sole representatives of the Ghana Games in Nigeria. This will allow you to be able to see and transparently control the sales and help the Federal Government to realise huge revenue as the mafia will not be able to manipulate the system again."

The company said no law could stop a private company from entering into a contract with another private foreign company in the course of doing its legitimate business.

“We wonder if the enabling Act that the NLRC is relying on to carry out the Machiavellian action prohibits Western Lotto from entering an agreement with LMC VAS Ghana Ltd? No express provision in the Act prohibit a private business from contracting with private foreign business with regards to lawful activities. The provision of the Act permitting Mr. President to enter into agreement other states is discretionary and does not limit the contractual power of a private business from entering into a contract regarding lottery.

"As far as Western Lotto is concerned, these are now Nigerian-based games by reason of the valid acquisition of the intellectual property by a Nigerian licensed entity."

The firm described as "very suspicious" the time and manner the decision was taken.

"Why was the decision not taken before Western Lotto got the exclusive franchise of the Ghana games? Every industry player knows that the Ghana Games are the most credible. They are the most widely played games in Nigeria for over 20 years and generate between 60 to 70 per cent of the total sales of lottery operators. This action will drastically affect the Federal Government’s revenue while enriching the mafia even more.

“It is true that the Commission has the powers to regulate the industry but can it stop the stakers from playing foreign games, such as Euro Millions, Powerball and the like? Can it also stop the sports betting companies from using the outcome of foreign matches and leagues? If it cannot, how then would it attempt to stop the playing of foreign lotteries in Nigeria, including the Ghana Games?” it asked.

The company also said the issue of credibility of the foreign lottery which was raised by the Commission holds no water, saying that a random sampling of stakers will show that they have more confidence in the results of the foreign lotteries than the indoor games of the respective lottery operators.

“If we may ask: where are the complaints of non-payment of winnings in foreign lotteries in Nigeria? Who are those making the complaints? We wish to invite the EFCC and other relevant agencies of the Federal Government to investigate Commission’s claims on the non-payment of winnings on foreign games. Assuming without conceding that there are complaints, is outright banning of foreign games the solution? Does the Commission not have internal mechanisms for resolving such issues as it did when Bet9ja had issues with the payment of winnings during the 2018 FIFA World Cup?”
Western Lotto said since Nigeria is a Federation where each state has its own lottery board, the NLRC cannot stop operators from selling the lotteries that they have been given licences to sell in the states.

The company wondered why the Commission did not act with the same speed it did in banning the sale and promotion of foreign lotteries when it raised issues of the sharp practices and short-changing of the Federal Government by lottery and sports betting operators.

“It beggars belief why the Commission would want to stifle or kill one operator for the others in a free market economy even when grave allegations of sharp practices with proofs have been supplied against the same operators."

Western Lotto said it will be in the interest of the Commission, the gaming industry and the general public to reverse the alleged ban on foreign lottery games - in line with the economic and anti-corruption drive of the present administration.

Western Lotto Nigeria Ltd yesterday said it is seeking to employ 20,000 youths as Point of Sales Officers in 18 states across the country.

The company said in a statement that this was part of its initiative to boost job creation, empowerment and productive engagement of young people.

Applicants are expected to have a minimum qualification of Senior School Certificate (SSCE) and a maximum of Ordinary National Diploma (OND) in any discipline.

The statement said: “Successful applicants shall be entitled to monthly salary of N30,000 - in line with the minimum wage approved by Labour and the Federal and state governments.

“They will also be entitled to a commission of 7.5 per cent of their monthly sales which could take their monthly pay to N60,000.

“This employment is guaranteed for an initial period of two years.”

Applications deadline is on or before January 31 and the relevant states are: Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ondo, Ekiti, Rivers, Edo, Delta, Bayelsa, Nasarawa State/FCT, Kwara, Kano, Kogi, Niger, Enugu, Imo and Akwa Ibom.

The company encouraged applicants to apply to apply online on its website or submit their applications and reference forms by hand at Western Lotto Headquarters and Area/Regional offices.

Western Lotto Nigeria Ltd is the sole rights owners of the Ghana Games in Nigeria; a sister company of Western Bet and Lotto9ja (an online instant games platform) under the BWC Group, Lagos, with interests in real estate and hospitality.

The National Union of Lottery Agents and Employees (NULAE) has commended Western Lotto Nigeria Limited for acquiring the sole proprietary rights to sell and promote the Ghana Games in Nigeria.

A statement signed by the spokesman and National Treasurer of the union, David Omaghomi, quoted the body as saying, “Based on facts and verifiable documents before the union, we wish to commend WesternLotto.com on its recent acquisition of sole rights franchise on the popular Ghana games, which many operators have been illegally using to short-change the Federal Government, dupe the gaming public and expose the country to ridicule for years unchecked. We challenge any operator who claims to have a contrary position to forward such facts and documents to the union.”

The union also canvassed a more transparent participation of all stakeholders in the gaming industry in Nigeria, if the Federal Government is to realise its drive of generating more revenue to fund its yearly budget projections without borrowing, as recently revealed by the Minister of Special Duties, Mr. George Akume.

It resolved to mobilise its members nationwide, to support the National Lottery Regulatory Commission (NLRC) and other government agencies in exposing all illegal operators across the country and ensuring legitimate operators live up to their responsibility to the gaming public in the overall interest of the country.

The statement added, “As a union, we decry the fraudulent acts of gaming operators who under-declare revenues generated, number of gaming machines in use, manipulation of game results or outright tax evasion and call on the relevant government agencies to carry out a forensic audit of the revenues generated by Operators in the last 15 years to ascertain the 20 per cent due to the federal government, as enshrined in the Lottery Act. We also wish to urge the federal government to mandate the National Lottery Trust Fund to better utilise such funds for tangible good cause projects across all geo-political zones of the country like roads, education, healthcare, security, environment and sports etc.

‘‘We hereby urge all stakeholders to support the Lottery Industry Improvement Project (L.I.I.P) to be launched by the Union in the first quarter of 2020, as it is designed to institute a paradigm shift in the minds of Nigerians on the benefits of gaming, stamp out underage betting and improve betting conditions amongst others.’’

The union also reiterated its commitment to working with the Federal Government and stamping out sharp and unhealthy practices in the gaming industry.

“As the Trade Union of the Gaming Industry in Nigeria, we pledge to support any agency of government or operator that is committed to healthy gaming practices and Labour friendly policies this year. Henceforth, we shall be collaborating with our Labour Centre and other Civil Rights Organisations to picket the premises of any operator or agency that have refused to comply with the extant Labour Laws on Unionisation, implementation of the new national minimum wage and deduction of union dues accruable to the Union from source,’’ the union said.

Winners Are Already Emerging In The IN-DOOR Games Promo

Nigeria’s leading lottery brand, Western Lotto prides itself in the genuine testimonies and proof of the authenticity
and reality of its product.

We have yet another winner for our Indoor Game. Sambo, who played 2 Sure Stake 100 Naira has won N30,000 in Ibadan. On the 21st of
October 2019, we issued the winner his prize of N30,000 as well as an Umbrella which is the complemetary gift attached to
N100 2 Sure prize.

It would be recalled that on the 14th of October 2019, Westernlotto began its indoor games promo as part of its efforts to give
back to the society. Westernlotto has started rewarding its loyal customners with mobile phones, umbrellas, T-shirts and face caps.

Other exciting gifts up for grabs inlude items such as Suzuki mini bus, motorcycles, generators and phones, standing fans,
fridges, caps and Plasma Television sets.

Speaking about the promo, the General Manager of Western Lotto, Mr. Tajudeen Usman, said, “In the Western Lotto Indoor Games
Promo, everyone is a winner. With as low as N50, stakers stand the chance of winning any of the exciting prizes on offer in
addition to their normal cash winnings.

“For a N5 ‘2 Sure Ticket’, a customer gets N1, 500 worth of virtual money to play more games and increase his chances of winning.

“That is not all. Even if you do not win any of the gifts, the sum of N4 million has been set aside to reward loyal customers
who will be picked through a weekly raffle draw. It is a win-win situation for all.”

The promo, which will run from 14th October to 12th December, 2019, is approved by the appropriate regulatory bodies.

The items have been procured and distributed to Western Lotto offices across the 23 states of the federation that it has presence.

"What this means is that winners can claim their gifts from the agents nearest to them, anytime, anyday," Usman said.