BLB Lottery Promo: National Lottery Regulatory Commission Imposes 10 Million Fine On Sponge Nig Ltd For Violating Operational Terms

* Directs Immediate Payment To Winners

The National Lottery Regulatory Commission has announced its decision directing the promotional lottery operator, Sponge Nigeria Ltd to pay a sum of (#10,000,000) ten million naira as a fine, for violating the company’s Operational Terms and Conditions of its promo permit and further mandating immediate payment to the winners of the said promo.

TheNigeriaLawyer recalls that Mr. Gabriel Okpoma, had earlier on called on sponsors of the promo to pay the winners their N2M prizes, in which MTN Nigeria finally promised to investigate the complaint made by Gabriel Okpoma concerning the failure of Eczellon Capital, Sponge Nigeria Limited and NNB Capital and Investment to pay winners of BLB lottery promo, totally about one hundred and thirty-eight million naira.

Meanwhile, the Commission via its twitter handle today has disclosed the decision to mandate swift payment of the prizes to the respective winners.

NLRC Directs Immediate Payment of Winners …Slams N10M Fine on Erring Operator

The National Lottery Regulatory Commission has directed a promotional lottery operator; Sponge Nigeria Limited to pay, without further delay, all lucky winners in its concluded promotional lottery

— National Lottery Regulatory Commission (@nlrcgovng) June 6, 2020

According to the tweet:

“The National Lottery Regulatory Commission has directed a promotional lottery operator; Sponge Nigeria Ltd, to pay, without further delay, all lucky winners in its concluded promotional lottery captioned “Better Life Billionaire Promo”. The Commission also slammed a fine of Ten million naira on the Company for violating the Operational Terms & Conditions of its promo permit”

Meanwhile, the Commission also disclosed that this directive is contained in correspondence to Sponge Nigeria Ltd dated 27th day of May, 2020 which was signed by the Director General of the Commission, Mr. Lanre Gbajabiamila.

Furthermore, the Commission stated that the act of the company is in flagrant violation of National Lottery Act of 2005 and the Operational Terms & Conditions signed by the company on 2nd day of August, 2019.

According to the Commission’s tweet :

“By accepting NLRC permit for the BLB promo, Sponge was legally bound to conduct its affairs with all due propriety and protect participating stakeholders. Under express terms of the signed Terms & Conditions, Sponge promised to “ensure that all prizes and monies due to prize winners are redeemed in full”.

Besides, the Commission disclosed that the act of the company undermines the integrity of the lottery and gaming industry “and was inconsistent with transparency accountability and fairness which are hallmarks of the Commission’s operations”. The Commission noted.