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Buruji Kashamu allegedly petitions EFCC, exposes Baba Ijebu #5B tax fraud

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Kessington Adebutu, Nigeria’s gambling mogul whose business empire has enjoyed decades of patronage as a household name across the country, has become a new target of a vast corruption investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

As part of the investigation on Tuesday, anti-graft detectives at the EFCC office in Lagos detained and questioned Segun Adebutu, son of the octogenarian, questioning him on matters ranging from alleged tax fraud to economic sabotage.

Anti-graft officials said Mr Adebutu’s business activities recently became a subject of their suspicion following a petition from another betting company, Western Lotto. The December 2019 petition from Western Lotto, run by politician Buruji Kashamu, asked the EFCC to investigate billions of naira in lost government revenues and tax fraud against Mr Adebutu’s Premier Lotto.

The anti graft agency have identified at least N5 billion in revenue losses against the government since the investigation began — directly blaming the management of Premier Lotto for allegedly shortchanging Nigerians.

Far known as ‘Baba Ijebu’, Mr Adebutu has been widely hailed as pioneering inclusive gambling in Nigeria and shooting it into the mainstream. Although it was only in 2001 that he registered Premier Lotto, the betting franchise that accounts for the largest share of his wealth, Mr Adebutu’s reputation as a driving force of Nigerian gambling trade has spanned decades before its commercialization.

Segun Adebutu is only one of at least four children who are management officials at Premier Lotto, Some of them are also top executives of the regulatory federal lottery board.

The success of Mr Adebutu’s betting exploits imbued former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s interest in establishing a federal agency to regulate lotteries across Nigeria in 2005. Several private entities have since sprung up, taking bets from multiple sporting activities, especially football.

But the raging allegations against Premier Lotto, by far the largest betting conglomerate in Nigeria, could deal a setback to the industry’s hopes for competing with banking in the financial services sub-sector, according to officials familiar with the investigation.

It was learnt that several other betting companies are currently being investigated as part of the sprawling inquiry into how betting funds were being handled across the country, with the bookies being dogged by multiple allegations of sharp practices, including claims they had been withholding funds meant for winning customers in order to maximise the bank interest on such funds.

No charges have been filed because more betting companies are still being investigated for similar allegations, although on a scale lower than Premier Lotto’s, an official said.

Multiple officials at the lottery commission have been notified of the raging investigation, with concerned companies already asked to submit their financial records to anti-graft detectives in Lagos and Abuja.

Mr Kashamu was however alleged of triggering the tax crises as it was gathered that he wanted to dominate a section of the betting business in Nigeria.

“What we learnt is that Buruji Kashamu said he has sole rights to ‘Ghana Games’ in Nigeria,” an official said under anonymity because the lottery commission was still considering a unified response to the EFCC investigation. “But he should not burn down the entire industry to implement his business interests.”

The official said an association of betting companies would soon meet to form a coordinated response to the EFCC investigation that was triggered by Mr Kashamu’s alleged “anti-industry practices.”

Mr Kashamu, who is wanted for an unrelated drug offense in the U.S. for which he has denied culpability said he petitioned the EFCC about corruption in the betting industry, but de emphasised allegations of being a disgruntled player in the business, saying he had taken the matter to court and was now only concerned about the interest of Nigerians.

“All the taxpayers’ billions they diverted should have been paid into the lottery commission trust fund to build infrastructure and alleviate poverty amongst the Nigerian masses,” the politician said. “I urge Nigerians to continue to pressure the EFCC to investigate and charge all those responsible for sabotaging the country’s economy without any pity for the masses.”

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Wike Begins 6-Council “Thank-You” Tour In FCT

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Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has begun a thank-you visit to the six area councils of the territory, over the outcome of the Feb. 21 area council elections in the FCT.

The visits, which began with Bwari Area Council on Tuesday, according to the Minister, is to thank the people for keeping to their promises to support President Bola Tinubu’s candidates in the election.

“So, on behalf of Mr President, let me thank you all for fulfilling the promise you made, that you will support the candidates that are supporting him to win.

“Mr President said I should thank you and that he is not going to take this show of love for granted. He will also fulfill his own part, and that will be done through me.

“Some people don’t understand when we say agreement—what is agreement? When we agree on something, you do your own part, I do my own. That means we have fulfilled the agreement,” he said.

The Minister said that the time has come for politicians to keep to their promises, stressing that under Tinubu’s administration “we will give Bwari the necessary support”.

He promised to work closely with the council’s Chairman-elect, Mr Joshua Ishaku saying, “anything you ask through Joshua, consider it done”.

He thanked the traditional leaders in the area and promised to do everything possible to give them their due honour and respect.

In his remarks, Ishaku thanked Wike for the visit and for the good job he was doing for Tinubu.

Describing Wike as a “humble father”, Ishaku assured the Minister that Bwari Area Council would leave no stone unturned in supporting the restoration of the Renewed Hope Agenda in 2027.

“As you assured us yourself, we can see, we can feel and we can touch the developmental strides you have recorded just within two years of your assumption into office.

“What more can we say? What more can we ask for? This is indeed what governance is all about,” Ishaku said.

(NAN)

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MDCN Panel Suspends Euracare Director, Two Doctors After Establishing Negligence In Death Of Chimamanda’s Toddler

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The Medical and Dental Practitioners Investigation Panel has invoked its order of suspension against the Medical Director of Euracare Multi-Specialist Hospital, Dr. Tunde Majekodunmi, and two others, after establishing a prima facie case of medical negligence against them in the management of the 21-month old son of renowned writer, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Nkanu Adichie-Esege.

Nkanu passed away on January 7, 2026, after receiving care at Atlantis Hospital and undergoing medical procedures at Euracare Multi-Specialist Hospital in Lagos.

Channels TV reports that apart from the Medical Director at Euracare, the panel also suspended the anesthesiologist at the same hospital, Dr. Titus Ogundare, as well as the Chief Medical Officer at Atlantis Pediatric Hospital, Dr. Atinuke Uwajeh.

In a statement signed by its secretary, Dr. Enejo Abdu, the panel mentioned that the trio are suspended from medical practice in Nigeria pending the determination of their case by the Medical and Dental Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal.

The panel also stated that there is a prima facie case of misconduct in a professional respect against 10 other doctors. They are Dr. Adeseye Akinsete, Dr. Chidinma Ohagwu, Dr. Anthony Ajeh, Dr. Amarachi Bayo, and Dr. Nkechi Peji. Others are Dr. Olaoye Oludare, Dr. Agaja Oyinkansola, Dr. Patricia Akintan, Dr. Babatunde Bamgboye, and Dr. Raji Faidat.

The panel, which also cleared 8 other doctors, reached these decisions after considering the complaint against all 21 doctors and reviewing their counter-affidavits, including their oral depositions on oath.

The panel concluded its investigation at its 25th session held at Excel Hotel & Resort in Abuja on Feb 17th & 18th, 2026,

The 21-month-old child, Nkanu Adichie-Esege, was initially admitted to Atlantis Hospital in Lagos for what was described as a worsening but initially mild illness.

While arrangements were being made to transfer him to Johns Hopkins Hospital in the United States, Atlantis referred him to Euracare for pre-flight diagnostic procedures, including an MRI, lumbar puncture, and insertion of a central line.

However, the child passed following the procedures.

His parents have alleged medical negligence and professional misconduct in connection with his death.

 

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DSS Detains Five Airport Officers Over El-Rufai Security Breach

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Following a joint investigation into a security breach at Abuja’s Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA) involving former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, five security officers have been arrested.

The arrests are coming weeks after security operatives attempted to arrest El-Rufai at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, on February 12, 2026, shortly after he arrived from Cairo, Egypt, aboard Egypt Air flight MS 877.

It was gathered that suspects and are set to face prosecution.

The arrests followed a joint investigation conducted by the Department of State Services, DSS, the Nigeria Immigration Service, NIS, the Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, and the Federal Ministry of Aviation.

Those detained include ASP Ayuba Yakubu of the Nigeria Police Force, Murtala Inuwa of the DSS, Najeeb Murtala of the Immigration Service, and Aviation Security personnel Musa Adamu and Salihu Victor.

According to AIT, investigators disclosed that the suspects allegedly admitted to receiving bribes to grant unauthorised access to restricted sections of the airport and to interfere with lawful security procedures.

Authorities described the development as a grave insider breach of critical national infrastructure.

The suspects have since been transferred to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC) for prosecution.

Meanwhile, additional Immigration and Customs personnel who were found to have misused their official uniforms to facilitate unauthorised access but were not deemed criminally liable will face internal disciplinary measures.

According to the authorities, the action reflects zero-tolerance to internal compromise within Nigeria’s aviation security system.

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