Some betting companies have described the Lagos State Lotteries and Gaming Authority’s publication, which lists some betting companies as unregistered, as harmful to the developing gaming industry.
According to a statement, the LSLGA issued a public notice last week claiming that 43 lottery and gaming platforms did not have a permit to operate in the state and warned the gaming populace to avoid patronizing them.
The National Lottery Regulatory Commission, on the other hand, maintained in a statement issued by its Director General, Lanre Gbajabiamila, that the gaming operators described as unlicensed and unlawful in the LSLGA publication were lawfully licensed to run lottery and sports betting enterprises in Nigeria.
The NLRC insisted that Zebet, Betika, Gobet247, Msport, Afribet, Bangbet, Betwazobia, Koretbet, Paripesa, Livescorebet, Blackbet/betty Bingo, Cloudbet, Hallabet, N1bet, Konfambet, Scratch2win, Naijabet, Lottomania, and Millionaire Powerplay were its licensees, according to the statement.
It stated, “The confusion generated by the development has been viewed as having unnecessarily upset the stability the industry had enjoyed since a court judgement that affirmed the NLRC as the authentic body with the legal powers to regulate the industry in Nigeria.
“Some industry experts believe LSLB’s action is an affront to the ruling by Justice Iniekenimi Oweibo of the Federal High Court in Lagos State that the Federal Government, through the National Assembly, had the exclusive right to legislate and control lottery activities in the country.
“Justice Oweibo gave the ruling in a suit filed by the Association of Nigerian Bookmakers in 2020.”
![Rev. Fr. Anthony Odiong, a US-based Nigerian Louisiana Catholic priest, was arrested in Florida on Tuesday for possessing child pornography, according to law authorities. The suspect is reportedly accused of many other cases of sexual assault. The Waco, Texas, Police Department announced in a Facebook post on Tuesday that officers detained Father Anthony Odiong in Ave Maria, Florida, with assistance from the United States Marshals Service. Waco police announced in March that they had received "credible information" about a sexual assault allegedly committed by Odiong in Texas in 2012. “During the subsequent investigation, a case of possession of child pornography was uncovered,” the police said. The priest was apprehended in Florida by the Caribbean Regional Fugitive Task Force. The Waco Police Department said that he will be extradited to Texas. Odiong had previously served in the Archdiocese of New Orleans before being removed as priest in December of last year due to controversy over homilies in which he claimed, among other things, that the Catholic Church was being taken over by "the gays." At the time, the priest was also accused of abusive behaviour; a Louisiana lady claimed in U.S. bankruptcy court that Odiong had committed both financial and sexual abuse against her. Prior to joining the New Orleans Archdiocese, Odiong served in at least two Texas parishes. On Tuesday, Waco police stated that during their sexual assault investigation, "the presence of other survivors was revealed." “Multiple women have come forward to tell similar experiences as the sexual assault survivor who reported the initial allegation,” the police department said. “Survivors’ experiences ranged from sexual assault and indecent assault, more commonly recognised as groping, and financial abuse, with some survivors experiencing every element of Anthony Odiong’s manipulation.” The police said they “believe there may be more survivors, and we wish to speak with anyone who [has] had similar encounters” with the priest. The Archdiocese of New Orleans issued a brief news release on Tuesday noting Odiong's arrest in Florida. The archdiocese “encourages anyone with any information to contact law enforcement,” the release said.](https://chronicle.ng/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/ezgif-6-4730550ede-450x300.jpg "Odiong: US-based Nigerian Catholic priest convicted over sexual assault")
