Over Alleged Illegal Lottery, Tax Evasion and Suspected NLA Dealings
Businessman Seidu Agongo, owner of Class Media Group (operators of Class FM, Class TV, and other outlets), has been accused of masterminding a scheme of illegal lottery operations, tax evasion, and regulatory manipulation.
A petition filed at the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) by fintech professional Jamal Iddrisu, a resident of Nima, calls for a full-scale probe into what it describes as “a grand scheme of corruption, fraud and abuse of public office.”
Illegal 5/90 Online Lottery Operations
At the heart of the allegations is the *859# 5/90 online lottery service, operated under the brand name “Onasis–NLA.” According to the petition, Onasis Sports Company Limited, owned by Agongo, has been running the platform without a valid license from the National Lottery Authority (NLA).
The petitioner claims the company sidestepped the NLA by seeking approvals directly from the National Communications Authority (NCA) and mobile telecom companies, in clear violation of the National Lotto Act, 2006 (Act 722).
“This amounts to regulatory capture and raises serious questions about how state institutions can be bypassed,” the petition argues.
Alleged Tax Evasion Across Onasis Companies
The petition also points to what it calls systematic tax evasion, listing three Onasis-branded companies that have allegedly never filed corporate tax returns since incorporation:
Onasis Sports Company Limited (Reg. No. CSO00760425)
Onasis Sports Management and Investments International Limited (Reg. No. CS116530723)
Onasis Investment International Limited (Reg. No. CS184971124)
“These practices are not isolated lapses. They represent deliberate attempts to defraud the state and deny the public purse millions of cedis,” Mr. Iddrisu charged.
NLA’s Role Under Scrutiny
The petition further questions the conduct of the National Lottery Authority in its dealings with Agongo’s companies. It alleges that Onasis Sports was issued a Caritas Lottery License despite not being a registered Lotto Marketing Company, contrary to Act 722 and L.I. 1948.
Even more controversially, the document cites records showing that Onasis Sports was incorporated in April 2025, yet reportedly received its license in 2024.
“How does a company get licensed before it legally exists? This points to possible collusion, fraud, or abuse of office by officials within the NLA,” the petition asserts.
Call for OSP Action
The whistleblower petition insists that the matter falls squarely under the mandate of the OSP, as it involves corruption, tax evasion, fraud, and abuse of public office.
It calls for investigations into:
The legality of the *859# 5/90 lottery service;
The tax compliance of all Onasis companies;
The role of the NLA and potential misconduct by its officials.
“The people of Ghana deserve to know that no individual, however wealthy or politically connected, is above the law,” Mr. Iddrisu stated.
Background on Agongo
Seidu Agongo is a high-profile businessman whose name has long been linked with controversies in the banking, agricultural, and media sectors. Beyond his media empire, he has faced scrutiny over the Agric Development Bank fertilizer scandal and past clashes with financial regulators.
His growing influence in both business and media has raised concerns about the intersection of money, politics, and regulatory capture in Ghana.
Awaiting Response
As at press time, neither the Office of the Special Prosecutor, the National Lottery Authority, nor Mr. Agongo had responded publicly to the allegations.
The case is expected to test the OSP’s resolve to confront corruption involving politically exposed and economically powerful individuals.
