Alleged fake promo: NLRC drags Multichoice, others to court

FRANCIS IWUCHUKWU

The National Lottery Regulatory Commission, NLRC, has instituted a suit against Multichoice Nigeria limited alongside two officials of the company, Tayo Ajala and Tomi Olugbemi before a Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi over allegation of conspiracy, false inducement and using the company's office for lottery purposes.

Others charged and now said to be at large includes one John Ugbe, Bisi Animashaun, Martins Mabutho, and Busola Tejumola. The commission in a twenty two counts charge designated FHC/L/122c/14, alleged that all the accused persons had between October 2013 and March 2014, conspired together to induce Nigerians to confer benefit on them by entering into contract of buying the product of Multichoice Nigeria Limited by way of advance payment of DSTV Telecast monthly subscription upon promise that participants will win a price of expenses paid trip to Grammy Award in USA and Zambia 2014 return ticket to Brazil in a lottery, this which they never fulfilled.

NLRC also alleged that the defendants conspired together to induce one Emmanuel Egos and other citizens of the federal Republic of Nigeria to buy the product of Multichoice tagged RETURN TICKET TO 2014 GRAMMY AWARD, by way of advance payment of DSTV Telecast Monthly subscription upon the promise that participant will win a price of expenses paid trip to Grammy Award in USA in a lottery they never fulfilled.

The charge also posited that all the defendants allegedly promoted a scheme with the caption, 'DSTV SAMBA 2014 RETURN TICKET TO BRAZIL', under which a promise is given to members of the Nigerian populace participating in the scheme to the effect that they will win a price in a lottery.

The commission also alleged that the defendants established and kept the premises of Multichoice Nigeria Limited at Plot 1381, Tiamiyu Savage street, Victoria Island, Lagos, as a place for the purpose of the lottery.

According to the charge, the alleged offence offends and it is punishable under Sections 34(4)(f) of the National lottery Act 2005, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, and Sections 1(3)and 8 of the Advance fee fraud and other fraud related offences Act Cap A6 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2006.

The case comes up on July 8, 2014 for trial.