LOTTERY WAR OF THE UNKINDEST TYPE. BURUJI KASHAMU VS. KESSINGTON ADEBUTU. WESTERN LOTTO VS. PREMIER LOTTO

Adebutu vs. Kashamu 

We all know this 2 men. Chief Kessington Adebutu needs no introduction whatsoever. But just for the sake of it let's do something like a little intro. He is the man referred to as the "Nigerian undisputed king of lotto" and a super great and highly celebrated philanthropist. Everything that has to do with lottery/betting revolves around him. His name is in fact synonymous with it, in a way he made it popular and showed to Nigerians one could be a billionaire from it. He and his late friend, Chief Solomon "gbengbeleku" Ayoku were the colossus of betting and all. And Baba Ijebu as he is fondly known, a name also synonymous with his brand, has kept the flag flying, even after the demise of his friend who was a colossus in Casino business. He owns Premier Lottery, which has been in business for so long. The Odole of Ife, is the father of Honorable Ladi Adebutu, who is a politician and the other Governorship aspirant of the PDP in their ill fated desire to wrest power from the ruling APC recently. While his son Ladi is a politician and used to be an Honorable member of the Federal House of Representatives, his dad who is in his 80s, has never being a politician.

Chief Buruji Kashamu on the other hand a well known politician and a leader of the PDP in Ogun State. He is in fact the controversial high spending moneybag businessman and politician from Ogun State. He is the owner of the Best Western Hotel opposite the Bar Beach, Victoria Island, which is just one of the businesses he is known for. He had a long running court case at a point, when the US Government wanted to extradite him to face allegations of drug running in America, an allegation he has denied and continues to deny fervently and with vigor. He was a distinguished Senator of  the Federal Republic at a point. He fought his own party to a standstill to be the PDP Gubernatorial candidate of his party at the last election, his unrelenting rival was none other than Hon. Ladi Adebutu, who had emerged as . Both see each other as straightforward, uncompromising bitter enemies, who would go to any length to do away with each other. Chief Buruji Kashamu is the owner and promoter of Western Lotto.

Ladi like we have already said above, is an unflinching and bitter rival and enemy of Buruji. And Ladi is the 1st son & eldest child of the owner of Premier Lotto, Chief Kessington Adebutu. Premier Lotto and Western Lotto are competitors, in fact major rivals. Premier Lotto controls the turf, at least a large percentage of it, because of maybe length of time in existence. Western Lotto being a rival and competitor would love to have one over an enemy. So like they say, all is fair in war.

Since the owners of the brands are bitter rivals somewhat, then their companies or brands doing the same business are also likely hit heads also0 be bitter rivals and enemies too and that has been seen to be the case now, with what is presently unfolding into a war of damn all consequences and bring your rival down at all cost by Western Lotto against Premier Lotto. Maybe to get to Ladi, Buruji is willing to take down the business that brings in the milk that feeds the family in the most legal war possible, most especially if there's a chink to exploit.

Hence, Senator Buruji Kashamu justifiably through his Western Lotto brand, became a whistle blower to the Nigerian anti graft body the EFCC, in a strongly worded petition alleging 'economic sabotage and multi-billion Naira tax fraud' to the tune of as much as N5billion. And hence the investigation began and even gentleman Segun Adebutu, one of the sons of the Great man, has been invited for questioning.

So last year December of 2019, Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke of the Federal High Court in Lagos had granted Western Lotto Ltd an Anton Piller order (a court order which requires the defendant in proceedings to permit the plaintiff or his or her legal representatives to enter the defendant's premises in order to obtain evidence essential to the plaintiff's case) authorizing it to search 23 firms involved in the Lotto business, for evidence of violation of its Ghana Games patents infringement, which they Western Lotto had exclusive rights to.

The Ghana Games are alleged to be responsible for about 60/70 percent of the revenue generated from lottery games in Nigeria.

The reports had said that the Ghana National Lottery Authority (NLA) had granted Western Lotto Nigeria Limited the “exclusive rights” in an agreement recently executed by both parties.

The Ghana products, includes the following Monday Special Lotto, Lucky Tuesday Lotto, Midweek Lotto, Fortune Lotto, Friday Bonanza Lotto, Saturday National Lotto, VAG Lotto and super six Lotto) both in stores and in all promotional activities.

Western Lotto’s right also include “the exclusive right to use the draw numbers of the Ghana National Lottery Authority (NLA) to sell and distribute lotto products and games to customers located in the Federal Republic of Nigeria”.

The first and second defendants in the suit, marked FHC/L/CS/2321/19, are the National Lottery Regulatory Commission and Registrar of Trademarks.

And then there 23 others which includes Premier Lotto Ltd and even K.C Gaming Networks Ltd who are the parent company of Bet9ja, so in actual fact, Western Lotto is actual fighting the biggest names in the business, in fact a consortium if one can put it like that.

The given court order also affects “each and every point of sale stations and agency operated by all the brands offering lottery products.”

Justice Aneke also went further to  appoint the third to 25th defendants to represent “the class of persons passing off their lotto products by using trade names and trade marks that are associated with the ‘Ghana Games’…and or who illegally sell ‘Ghana Games’ lotto products in Nigeria by using the draw of the numbers of the Ghana NLA to sell and distribute lotto games to customers in Nigeria.”

So it's a long drawn battle ahead and big money, in fact very big money would most definitely exchange hands. 

IS MOMMY A PHILANTHROPIC TAX EVADER?

Rev. Mother Esther Abimbola Ajayi 

The news has been circulating underground for quite a bit now, with many finding it hard to believe and the star of the story is none other than the very philanthropic new star of the white garment churches around the world, her eminence Rev. Mother Esther Abimbola Ajayi aka Iya Adura of Love of Christ C&S church.

There's no doubt about it that the new icon of the white garment churches in Nigeria and by extension, across the globe is a good thing to so many people, in fact she's like a ray of good sunshine, a rainbow that emerged at the end of tunnel for so many downtrodden. She's a beacon of light and hope for the white garment churches that she has tried as much as possible to unite as one, especially as they had been subjected to so many unpalatable scrutiny for many years now, with people claiming they are more into spiritism and occultic practises than what they profess or claim to be. So since she emerged on the scene, and with her showcase of extraordinary philanthropic activities through her "Esther Ajayi Foundation" many had begun to see that sector of the church in another light again.

But much as she has shown love to so many, bending over backwards most often, wrapping her arm of love around those who needed it, extending the hand of goodness to uplift those who needed or needs it, she has also always been trailed by many 'unsubstantiated allegations' of fraud. None of them ever investigated yet, so they can be said to be mere speculations from the pits of hell and therefore, none as yet have been proven to be true. Her current dilemma though as we speak now, is the current allegation gaining grounds again that she's on the run from the UK, where she used to be domiciled, where the HQ of her church- "Love of Christ C&S Church" is, for tax evasion!!!!  The ministry address is 412-412a Clapham Road, London, SW9 9DA.

According to those preaching this 'unpalatable current gospel of tax evasion', it is alleged that Rev. Mother Ajayi as it is now, cannot step foot into the UK. As the allegations goes, mama or mother like the giver extraordinaire is called, cannot set her foot on the shores of Wales, Scotland, England and Northern Ireland, all of those countries that makes up the United Kingdom for now, until her tax evasion case is dealt with.

Though it is claimed that Rev. Esther relocated to Africa-Nigeria/Ghana because she deliberately wanted to be near the downtrodden and the less privileged that she's cares and is very concerned about, another story going about is that, she might have relocated to avoid unnecessary scrutiny and the need to pay the price for tax evasion.

It would be great though, if the Rev. Mother would just shutdown the tales trailing her (some have said it's tales by moonlight or better still hocus pocus) in one fell swoop by just going to the UK like she normally just shuttles. 

SAYYU DANTATA'S MRS HQ SEALED OVER TAX DEFAULT

It is very obvious that things are not as they used to be no more. Gone are those days when you can call the bluff of certain Government organisation and get away with it without paying dearly for it. At least with this example now, all others would no who is the boss!

As we speak, the world's richest blackman and African on the continent, Aliko Dangote's younger brother Sayyu Dantata's brand has plenty of explaination to do as we speak.

The offence? Not necessarily an offence like that and it's even not on a personal basis, but it has to do with his business concern MRS which has been accused of tax evasion. The famous brand has been accused of tax default. And for not responding to the query from owing a humongous ₦497million Naira the brand's HQ has been sealed.

Though it was said that the accountant in concert with the head of security of the Apapa based company had tried to prevent the FIRS team lead by Anita Erinne from doing their job, that couldn't stop the men of the FIRS, as they still sealed the MRS facilities.

Knowing the super liquid Sayyu Dantata very well that amount from the FIRS led by Mr. Tunde Fowler is sure a chicken feed, so we know for sure that it would only take a few hours for the communication breakdown to be resolved very amicably. How much is half a billion for MRS, which is one of the biggest players in the downstream sector of the economy? At most that translates to $1.5million dollars, the cost of a super wrist watch or a house!

Though MRS is claiming to have sorted out the payment, FIRS claims the contrary, so both parties would soon resolve their differences and we would soon get a statement stating just that.