EFCC pledges to address fraud in lottery industry
Fraud
By Kate Obande-Okewu
Abuja, Aug. 9, 2018 (NAN) Mr Bamanga Bello, Director, Special Control Unit Against Money Laundering (SCUML), has pledged the commitment of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), to eradicating fraud in Nigeria’s lottery industry.
Bello made the pledge at the one-day Public Forum on the Operations of Lottery Industry in Nigeria, which was organised by Lottery Operators Forum on Thursday in Abuja.
He said that the forum was essential as it allows regulators meet with operators and agents to discuss challenges and way forward in the lottery industry.
The director urged lottery operators to promptly report any suspicion of fraudulent activities to the financial unit of the commission and law enforcement agencies for proper investigation and sanctions.
He also called on the operators to ensure they keep proper records of all their transactions from the past five years when filing their reports.
“We will collaborate with the operators, the National Lottery Regulatory Commission (NLRC) to ensure that fraud and illegality was curbed in the industry.
“But they have to play their role by reporting cases often, because except cases are reported there is nothing we can do,’’ Bello said.
Bello explained that the SCUML was charged with the responsibility of monitoring, supervising and regulating the activities of Designated Non-Financial Institutions.
Mr David Omaghomi, representative, National Union of Lottery Agents and Employees, said that there was a lot of corruption going on in the lottery industry as a result of the influx of illegal operators.
Omaghomi assured the anti-graft agencies of their support in tackling the issue of illegal operators in the industry by providing adequate and necessary information, especially in this administration that has zero tolerance for corruption.
He said that lottery is like crude oil but it is renewable while crude would definitely finish someday, adding that many of the illegal operators don’t pay tax.
The director said that it is a multi-million industry but it is wasting, describing the lottery as a game of chance that distributes wealth.
Omaghomi called on the operators to collaborate with the union and allow their employees to be union members to enable the industry thrive.
The union leader also called for the amendment of the National Lottery Regulation Act as the present one did not have provisions for lottery agents.
He said that the government should collaborate with the union, operators and agents to ensure the amendment of the Act. (NAN)
KTE/FF/AFA
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Edited by Fela Fashoro/Felix Ajide