Business

Exclusive! Scandal Hits Bet9ja As Betting Company Refuses To Pay N42.153m Winnings; Betting Firm Admits Error

Published

8 years ago

June 3, 2017

Popular betting company, Bet9ja, is faced with credibility and image problem as it is being accused of failing to pay over N42 million won by three people who played some of their games.

Thegazellenews.com learnt exclusively that on Saturday, January 9th, 2016, the quartet of: Peter Ayomide, Sobamke Samuel, Akinwusi Funsho and Okunade Tokuwalope staked games on the following coupon/bet slips: B926APZAAQWAA-1143424 with N100; B918APZATPTTC-1143424 with N100; B90APZATRRST-98000 with N100; and B92A4ATCTQS-98000 with N200 respectively.

Thegazellenews.com’s investigation revealed that the games were played at 17:19, 17:28, 17:44 and 17:45 respectively.

At the and each coupon eventually won the following amount of money: B926APZAAQWAA-1143424 won N2, 193, 501. 94k; B918APZATPTTC-1143424 won N2, 193, 501. 94k; B90APZATRRST-98000 won N12, 588, 793. 72k; and B92A4ATCTQS-98000 won N25, 177, 587. 44k. The total amount won by the quartet was N42, 153, 385. 04k.

The winnings were immediately announced on the data base of KC Gaming Networks, owners of Bet9ja.

However, joy turned to despair for the quartet when Bet9ja fraudulently recalled the winnings it has announced on its database around 12 midnight and 1am of Sunday, January 10th, 2016.

All efforts by the quartet to actualise thier winnings were rebuffed by the management of the betting company.

On Friday, January 22nd, 2016, the quartet through their lawyers: Emawodia and Attorneys, Legal Practitioners and Arbitrators, wrote to the management of Bet9ja, explaining the staking of the game and winnings by the clients attaching all necessary documents proving their case and demands to the betting company.

The letter was signed by Barrister Kayode Oyemakinde.

It took the betting company almost a month to respond to the correspondence from the winning quartet’s lawyer.

In the letter signed by Chuks Emele, Company Secretary and Legal Adviser stated that the winnings could not have been paid because the games on which the quartet of Peter, Sobanke, Akinwusi and Okunade placed their bets have been played before the bets were placed.

According to Bet9ja, “the game in which your clients placed a bet on the 9th of January, 2016 at about 17:19pm, 17:28pm, 17:44pm and 17:45pm had already been played earlier on that same day at about 16:00pm. The kind of bet placed by your Clients is called “Anytime scorer” which means first to score.

“Therefore, as at the time your Clients placed their bet, they already knew the result (and) the names of first scorers”.

The betting company explained further that in view of this, the gaming quartet have contravened one of its cardinal rules under Clause 13 termed as “Palpable Errors” which means “whenever a bet has been erroneously accepted on a market which should have been suspended or removed such a bet is outrightly cancelled.

“You would agree with us that the bets placed by your Clients on the particular game whose results are already known and EVEN IF WRONGLY ALLOWED TO BE PLACED ON OUR NETWORK IS A MISTAKE and therefore cannot be considered a winning bet and based on our Terms and Conditions particularly the paragraph “Palpable Errors” mentioned above, we are right in declining to pay for the bets”.

Ordinarily, the explanation above might have settled the controversy over the payment of the winnings. However further investigation by thegazellenews.com revealed that Bet9ja cannot fully absolved itself from the controversy.

Bet9ja needs to explain why its betting rportal emains opened when the matches on which bettings are being placed have commenced. All over the world, betting portals are closed whenever the kick-off time is up.

Bet9ja also admitted that it made a mistake by allowing the game to be played, so the question is whether the betting quartet should take responsibility for the betting company’s mistake.

Thegazellenews.com further investigation revealed that the protesting quartet were not the only people who placed bets on the game at that particular time. Thousands other people placed bets on the matches at that particular period. Since Bet9ja has admitted mistake in allowing the bets to be placed, is the betting company refunding the betting to thousands who have placed bets on the matches.

Thegazellenews.com can authoritatively revealed that as at 6pm on Friday, June 2nd, 2017, the winning coupons are still on the data base of Bet9ja and described as “bet correctly registered on Bet9ja database” though the winning money has been recalled.

Business

Port Harcourt Refinery Stays Active: NNPC Denounces Sabotage Rumors

Published

1 hour ago

December 21, 2024

Sahara Weekly

Port Harcourt Refinery Stays Active: NNPC Denounces Sabotage Rumors

NNPC Debunks Shutdown Rumors, Confirms Port Harcourt Refinery Fully Operational

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) has dismissed reports circulating in certain media outlets claiming that the Old Port Harcourt Refinery, which was re-streamed two months ago, has been shut down.

In a statement released by Olufemi O. Soneye, the Chief Corporate Communications Officer of NNPC Ltd, the company clarified that the refinery is fully operational. The statement noted that the facility’s operational status was recently verified by former Group Managing Directors of NNPC during a site inspection.

“Preparation for the day’s loading operation is currently ongoing,” the statement confirmed, emphasizing that allegations of the refinery’s shutdown are baseless and intended to create panic or artificial scarcity in the fuel market.

NNPC Ltd urged members of the public to disregard such misleading reports, labeling them as the work of those seeking to exploit Nigerians.

The Old Port Harcourt Refinery has been in operation since its re-streaming, and the company remains committed to ensuring stability in the supply of petroleum products across the country.

Business

Nigerian Banks Donate Multimillion Naira Relief Materials to Jigawa Flood Victims

Published

1 day ago

December 20, 2024

Sahara Weekly

Nigerian Banks Donate Multimillion Naira Relief Materials to Jigawa Flood Victims

In a show of solidarity, the Committee of Banks in Nigeria has extended a helping hand to victims of the September 2024 floods in Jigawa State. On Thursday, a high-profile delegation led by Dr. Oliver Alawuba, Chairman of the Committee and Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of United Bank for Africa Plc (UBA), visited Dutse, the state capital, to present relief materials to the state government.

The donated items, worth several million Naira, included essential food supplies such as rice and cooking oil, along with mattresses and beverages. Dr. Alawuba highlighted that the gesture aimed to alleviate the hardship faced by flood victims and support critical institutions, especially public hospitals, in their efforts to assist those affected.

“We stand in solidarity with the people and government of Jigawa State during this difficult time. This donation is our way of expressing empathy and supporting those who have lost loved ones, properties, and livelihoods,” Dr. Alawuba stated.

The delegation included notable banking leaders such as Mr. Roosevelt Ogbonna of Access Bank Plc, Dame (Dr.) Adaora Umeoji of Zenith Bank Plc, and Dr. (Mrs.) Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe of Fidelity Bank Plc, among others. Their collective presence underscored the banking sector’s commitment to corporate social responsibility and national development.

Governor Malam Umar A. Namadi expressed profound gratitude for the donation, describing the visit as a rare and commendable act of compassion. He assured the delegation that the relief materials would be judiciously distributed to the intended beneficiaries, emphasizing the importance of partnerships in rebuilding lives and communities.

The Committee of Banks also reiterated their commitment to supporting Nigerians during emergencies, drawing attention to previous interventions, including relief efforts during the 2011 and 2013 floods, the COVID-19 pandemic, and security initiatives like the Lagos State Security Trust Fund.

This humanitarian gesture reflects the collective resolve of Nigeria’s financial institutions to foster social and economic growth, making a meaningful impact in times of need.

Bank

Polaris Bank Clinches SERAS Award for Excellence in Sustainability and CSR

Published

1 day ago

December 20, 2024

Sahara Weekly

Polaris Bank Clinches SERAS Award for Excellence in Sustainability and CSR

Polaris Bank has once again cemented its position as a leader in corporate social responsibility (CSR) by winning the prestigious Sustainability, Enterprise, and Responsibility Awards (SERAS), Africa’s foremost recognition for impactful community and sustainability initiatives.

The bank was honored at the 18th edition of the SERAS Awards, held at the Oriental Hotel in Lagos, for its unwavering dedication to sustainable development and critical community interventions across Nigeria. The organizers commended Polaris Bank for its consistent efforts to improve lives and foster growth in underserved areas.

The SERAS Awards, often regarded as the gold standard in sustainability and CSR, celebrate organizations that drive innovation and create lasting societal and environmental benefits. Polaris Bank stood out this year for its extensive portfolio of impactful projects, earning the “Best in Rural Population Integration” award.

Some of the bank’s notable initiatives include:

Sponsoring the planting of 2,000 economic trees in communities like Ajingi, Kano State.
Renovating the Ibeju-Lekki Skill Acquisition Centre and donating essential equipment.
Installing boreholes in underserved rural areas to provide clean water access.
Supporting over 15,000 indigent students in public schools with educational resources, including uniforms, sandals, and books.
Providing free breast cancer screenings to 20,000 women over a decade and supporting survivors through retreats.
Establishing hospitals and rehabilitation centers for victims of sexual violence and vocational centers for women.
Donating ICT labs to skill acquisition centers and promoting financial literacy among students.
Organizing medical outreach programs and aiding Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).
These initiatives have not only improved living conditions but also reduced rural-to-urban migration by making communities more self-reliant and livable.

Rebuilding Community Resilience
Polaris Bank recently demonstrated its commitment to resilience by rebuilding its Sagamu branch, which was destroyed during the cash crunch riots following the Naira redesign policy. The bank fully reconstructed and re-equipped the branch, restoring critical banking services and supporting economic recovery in the community.

Commitment to Sustainability
Speaking on the award, Polaris Bank’s Managing Director, Kayode Lawal, emphasized the institution’s dedication to sustainability. “This recognition underscores our deliberate efforts to drive impactful socio-economic interventions and address the effects of climate change on our environment, economy, and people,” he said.

Lawal reiterated that for Polaris Bank, sustainability is not just a destination but a continuous journey of creating positive change.

Celebrating Africa’s Sustainability Leaders
The SERAS Awards brought together policymakers, business leaders, and global sustainability experts to celebrate organizations shaping Africa’s future through innovative solutions. Attendees used the event to connect with like-minded professionals and reaffirm a shared vision of lasting positive change across the continent.

As a trailblazer in sustainability and CSR, Polaris Bank remains steadfast in its mission to uplift communities, foster economic growth, and champion solutions to pressing societal challenges.