Illegal Lottery Operators Jailed

Two persons have been sentenced to one year and one month imprisonment, respectively by the Lagos State Special Offences Tribunal Court for illegally engaging in lottery operations in the state.

The convicts are Mr. Billy Ngansa and Mr. Magnus Nwaguma.

The two accused were found guilty by the court in Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos, South West Nigeria and jailed but were given an option to pay a fine of one million naira.

Chief Executive Officer of the Lagos State Lotteries Board, Mr. Lanre Gbajabiamila, who disclosed this, said the objective of the board was to create conducive environment for stakeholders to thrive.

He said the board, in collaboration with the Lagos State Task Force on Environmental and Special Offences would continue to monitor the activities of lottery operations in the state for compliance.

Gbajabiamila who vowed that the board would not hesitate to prosecute anyone caught in illegal lottery transactions, revealed that so far seven persons have been convicted in six months for operating illegal lottery in the state.

—Kazeem Ugbodaga