The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has directed some commercial banks to forward the details of foreign exchange transactions of owners of betting companies operating in the country.
The affected companies also included Founder of Premier Lotto (Baba Ijebu), Kensington Adebutu and a member of the House of Representatives and owner of Nairabet, Akin Alabi
The regulatory bank in a letter written to some commercial lenders dated September 15, noted that the companies and their owners, including some members of their families, have been suspected to be engaging in unauthorised foreign exchange transfer through their domiciliary accounts.
“You are required to furnish us withe domiciliary account statements (Excel and PDF formats) of the under listed individuals, including the domiciliary accounts linked to them by Bank Verification Number (BVN). The statements should cover the period January 1, 2013, to July 31, 2020,” the regulatory bank letter to the lenders stated.
Those listed by the CBN include; Adebisi Adebutu, Ajibola Adebutu, Olanipekun Adebutu and Olusegun Adebutu.
Others are, Mauro Ripamonti, Charbel Chidiac; Oludamilare Alabi, Oluwafemi Babalola, Adetayo Adesanwo and Byron Powell.
Officials of the CBN said the suspicion on the transactions by the companies arose from their illegal forex activities which included the transfer of huge dollars without auhtorisation by the regulatory bank.
Some of the companies were alleged to have purchased dollars from the parallel market and transfer the same through the back door under the guise of paying for the services of technical partners.
They are be suspected for carrying out illegal dealing in foreign exchange in contravention of the extant rules of the CBN, sources said.
For instance, some of the companies were said to have opened offshore accounts in Mauritius and other safe havens to enable them to move money around the world under suspicion circumstance.
