Ogun former senator, Buruji Kashamu, has denied the story going viral that he was the brain behind the problem the Premier Lotto CEO, Chief Kessington Adebutu, is presently having with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
It has been like cat and mouse game between Kashamu and the Adebutus since the N5 billion tax evasion case leveled against Chief Adebutu a.k.a. Baba Ijebu, alleged to have been authored by Kashamu.
Kashamu’s media spokesman, Austin Oniyokor, defended his principal in a chat with journalists on Wednesday evening.
According to Oniyokor, a firm where Kashamu has substantial interests it is that petitioned the EFCC not Kashamu. ”Western Lotto sent the petition to EFCC and the petitioned was signed by its general manager, Tajudeen Usman. So, it has nothing to do with Senator Buruji,” Oniyokor was quoted to have said in his response.
Western Lotto is said to be owned by Kashamu, who, reliable sources said, was angry at Baba Ijebu and other lotto operators, who had been operating before he joined the lotto business, for ignoring his persistent demands for royalties based on a claim that his outfit, Western Lotto, has the official franchise from a Ghana based popular betting firm that controls some lotto operations in Nigeria.
The billionaire politician, the source said, declared that disregard for his demand and continued operations by his competitors which he reportedly termed ”illegal” are causing his own lotto business heavy damages.
The case resumed in court on Wednesday while Chief Adebutu’s son, Segun Adebutu, still remains in the EFCC custody.
-Ademola Alade