Bet Naija Operator Faces Court Over Alleged ₦16.7 Million Theft

A Bet Naija operator has been dragged to court by the Lagos State Police Command for allegedly conspiring and stealing ₦16.7 million from a customer.

The accused, Bojuwoye Adetola, and her friend, Bunmi Dada, were arraigned on Monday, February 12, 2024, before Magistrate F.F. George on two counts of stealing.

The incident, which took place between September 12 and 24, 2023, in the Iddo area of Lagos Island, has left the gambling community in Nigeria stunned.

The victim, Lukman Issa, a businessman who sells Aso-Oke, played 36 games on September 12 and won all of them. However, when he went to collect his winnings from Adetola, he was told to come back and get the first ₦800,000 but never received a single penny.

According to the police prosecutor, James Okosun, the defendants allegedly conspired with others to commit the crime, which is punishable under Sections 411 and 287 of the Criminal Laws of the Lagos State of Nigeria, 2015.

In a statement to the police, Issa claimed that Adetola had been taking the money bit by bit and had planned with her friends to finish the money and not give him any dime.

He also mentioned that he went to the Bet Naija head office to report the incident but did not receive any helpful information.

The charges against the defendants read, “That you Bojuwoye Adetola, 25, Bunmi Dada, 24, and others still at large between September 12 and 24, 2023 at the Iddo area of Lagos Island in the Lagos Magisterial District did conspire amongst yourselves to commit felony to wit: stealing and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 411 of the criminal laws of the Lagos State of Nigeria, 2015.”

During the court proceedings, both Adetola and Dada pleaded not guilty to the charges. Magistrate George granted them bail in the sum of ₦500,000 with two responsible sureties each in like sum.

The case has garnered significant attention, with many questioning the integrity of the gambling industry in Nigeria.

The outcome of this trial could have far-reaching implications for the industry as a whole, and it remains to be seen how the authorities will respond to this shocking incident.