Winner Of BLB Lottery Promo, Gabriel Okpoma, Calls On Sponsors To Pay Winners Their N2M Prizes, As MTN Denies Having Involvement With The Lottery.

MTN Nigeria has finally promised to investigate the complaint made by one Gabriel Okpoma concerning the failure of Eczellon Capital, Sponge Nigeria Limited and NNB Capital and Investment to pay winners of BLB lottery promo their winning prize of N2,000,000 which they won in the promo.

MTN Nigeria made this promise in a tweet via their MTN Nigeria Support handle. The Support handle of the telecommunication company while replying to the tweet made by Gabriel Okpoma, TheNigerialawyer (TNL), and eight others, asked to the know about the promo, and also requested Gabriel to furnish them his phone number so that they can reach him for clarity on the issue.

This is coming after MTN had previously asked Gabriel Okpoma to follow up his case with relevant authorities, since he has enough evidence, claiming that they are not a party to the promo. This did not go down well with some of the winners who noted MTN’s involvement in the whole process.

TNL recalls that the Lagos State Lotteries board had through its legal officer, Kemi Adebiyi, written a mail to Mr. Gabriel Okpoma concerning his message on social media. In the mail, Kemi Adebiyi Esq., noted that the Board received with dismay his message which was with intent to tarnish the image of the organization. According to the board, his action does not bode well for the amicable settlement of the issue.

“It will interest you to note that LSLB held 4 (four) mediation sessions with the petitioners in Lagos State and NNB Capital and Investment Limited in a bid to resolve the issues in dispute and the petitioners assured the Board that the outcome of the meeting will be communicated to those outside Lagos. Upon Several offers by the petitioners, 2 (two) petitioners accepted the offer and they have been paid while some have signified interest to accept the offer.

“LSLB observed that you are resident in Delta State and as a result we are unable to attend to your petition as our jurisdiction is restricted to only Lagos State. In light of this, we advise you contact the gaming regular in Delta State as they are in the best position to address your petition. Kindly contact your state regulator via mail at info@deltabir.com for possible resolution of your complaint. You are also directed to delete your posts as regards the petition on our social media page, failure to do so will be met with appropriate necessary attention”, the letter reads.

Y'ello. We will like to investigate this. Please let us know the promo and DM your phone number so I can reach you for clarity on the issue. ~NY

— MTN Nigeria Support (@MTN180) May 31, 2020

In another letter written by one Simisola Muniru, Senior Legal officer, Lagos State Lotteries Board, to Mr. Gabriel, the board said that it take exception to Mr. Gabriel’s statement that the board defrauds or gives license to companies that defraud.

“It is important to clarify that LSLB’s license to operators is only for their operations within Lagos State. Our license does not cover the operator’s activities outside of Lagos. In case of petition, where the transaction is land based, the petitioner must have played the game or staked in a shop in Lagos and where the transaction is online, the petitioner must be resident in Lagos for LSLB to have jurisdiction over the matter.

“It is unfortunate that NNB Capital was not able to redeem their pledge to players. However, LSLB was only meant to entertain petitions that arose from Lagos State, but in a bid to protect the players and ensure players get their prizes, LSLB held series of meetings with some of the petitioners and NNB Capital. In the course of the meeting, the organization said it was running at a loss and could no longer sustain the promo, hence, the reason for the suspension of the promo.

“After much deliberations, it was agreed that NNB Capital will pay a sum of N120,000 to winners which some of the petitioners have since received and others have indicated interest in receiving same. With regards to 2k landlord, we believe that if you studied the terms and conditions of the lottery, you would have seen that the organization indicated that in the case where it did not meet the required patronage within specific period, it will refund ticket prize to all players which I believe you already received. LSLB believes it is within your right to go to court if you are aggrieved and you are fee to exercise your legal rights,” the letter reads.

In a bid to know the state of things concerning the matter, TheNigerialawyer (TNL) contacted Mr. Gabriel. In a telephone conversation with Mr. Gabriel, he confirmed the story and narrated how he was denied the prize which he won.

“The Better Life Billionaire promo (BLB PROMO) was organized by Sponge Nigeria Limited, Eczellon Capital and NNB capital and investment and was licensed by National Lottery Regulatory Commission and Lagos state lotteries board and same was supported by MTN NIGERIA. They paid 9 people from the first draw, except one gut Mr Abiola Adeoye.

“They gave the second draw winners cheques, and they invited the third to sixth draws winners to sponge Nigeria Limited office in Lagos on the 4th of October, 2019, and apologized that they can’t pay us that very day, and that we should go back to our various states. They promised that they will transfer our 2 million naira each into our various bank accounts on the 2nd of November, 2019. They then gave us a form. I was called on the 13^th of September, 2019 as one of the lucky winners from the fourth draw by the DG of the lottery promo Mr. Celestine Achi.

“They failed to pay us as promised and we sent petitions to NLRC and LSLB last year. There are email confirmation messages from LSLB that they received my complaints.  We held series of meetings with NLRC and their licensed lottery operator in Abuja and NLRC said they should pay us500 thousand naira as settlement/compensation which the operator still refused to pay us. They went to Lagos state lotteries board and their licensed lottery operator and offered to pay us 120 thousand naira which we rejected. They have being tossing us around since we rejected the offer from their licensed lottery operator. I played this lottery promo through MTN line because it was open to MTN users only on phone or you can play through their website. The money was deducted from MTN users lines when you play with SMS Code and MTN Nigeria is now denying their involvement in this lottery promo when the operator failed to pay winners. We want justice; we want our winnings of 2 million naira each,” he said.

TheNigerialawyer (TNL), recalls that Gabriel Okpoma had in a tweet made on the 31^st day of May, 2020, called on Eczellon Capital, Sponge Nigeria Limited and NNB Capital and Investment, licensed by NLRC and LSLB, and supported by MTNNG, to pay winners of BLB lottery promo their winning of N2,000,000 which they won in the promo.