The case originated in January 2021<\/strong> when businessman Sunday Nwachukwu<\/strong> staked \u20a6330,000<\/strong> (\u20ac184) on numbers 26 and 65<\/strong> in Green Lotto\u2019s Bonanza game<\/strong> through an agent. After his numbers won, the company\u2019s automated fraud-detection system flagged the ticket as suspicious, leading to its cancellation and a refund of the stake. <\/p>\n\n\n\n However, Nwachukwu rejected the decision, claiming that the win was legitimate and the cancellation was unjustified. When his attempts to resolve the issue at Green Lotto\u2019s office failed, he made reports at several police stations before escalating the matter to the Lagos State Lottery and Gaming Authority<\/strong> for intervention.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Green Lotto reportedly offered \u20a620 million<\/strong> (\u20ac11,156) to settle the matter, but Nwachukwu refused, leading the state to file criminal charges against the company after negotiations stalled. The prosecution\u2019s claims included conspiracy to withhold Nwachukwu\u2019s winnings, obtaining money by deception and prize theft. However, all these allegations failed to hold up to judicial examination.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n The court ruled that the prosecution failed to establish Akhenamen’s presence at the scene when the ticket was cancelled, and his role as sales manager didn’t grant him control over payouts or IT systems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The judge also determined that there was no evidence of fraudulent activity, as the company had not misled Nwachukwu into participating. The company’s terms and conditions clearly outlined its right to cancel suspicious tickets, and the refund of the \u20a6330,000 stake supported the conclusion that no theft had occurred.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Justice Clay concluded that the allegation of stealing \u20a672.7 million was unfounded, as the sum was only a potential prize and not actual funds belonging to Nwachukwu, and therefore, could not be considered stolen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n While the High Court ruling has exonerated Green Lotto from the criminal charges, the civil component of the case is still pending, subject to Nwachukwu’s further action. However, this verdict is a likely indication of what the outcome of any further legal challenge could be, given the court’s assessment of the case’s merits.<\/p>\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/focusgn.com\/africa\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2025\/07\/1639564202shutterstock_344620688s-300x200.jpg\")
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