The Senate on Tuesday threatened to order the shutdown of Bet9ja offices nationwide if the company failed to honour its invitation for a second time.
Igbere TV reports that Chairman of Senate Committee on Youth and Sports, Sen. Obinna Ogba made the remark at plenary during the verification of loto companies with license to operate in Nigeria.
Ogba, PDP senator representing Ebonyi Central, said it was unfortunate that Bet9ja refused to honour the committee’s invitation.
“Clerk, write to Bet9ja again. If they did not honour our invitation, we will ask the National Lottery Commission to seal their offices,” he said.
According to him, the Senate is making efforts aimed at assisting the Lottery Commission to generate money for the Federal Government.
”We want to see bet9ja. They can’t run away,” he said.
The chairman explained that the verification followed series of complaints against the betting companies, adding that ”some don’t even have offices while others have not been making remittances to the government.”
”Some got the licences but they are not operating. The new regulation only give them one year to start operations,” he noted.
Meanwhile, Igbere TV National Assembly correspondent reports that about 20 other betting companies appeared before the committee for the verification exercise.
