The Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) has been formally petitioned to investigate allegations of illegal lottery operations, tax evasion, and regulatory breaches by companies linked to businessman, Seidu Agongo, the owner of Class Media Group, which operates Class FM, Class TV, and other media businesses across Ghana.
The petition, filed by Jamal Iddrisu, a fintech professional resident in Accra, raises what it describes as a multi-layered web of economic crime, implicating not only Agongo’s Onasis-branded companies but also regulatory agencies that may have facilitated questionable operations.
Illegal 5/90 Online Lottery Scheme
At the center of the allegations is the controversial *859# 5/90 USSD lottery service, operated under the brand name “Onasis–NLA.” According to Mr. Iddrisu, investigations at the National Lottery Authority (NLA) show that Onasis Sports Company Limited has no valid license to run such an online lottery.
Yet, the company allegedly secured approval from the National Communications Authority (NCA) and mobile telecommunication firms to launch the *859# platform, bypassing the NLA in violation of the National Lotto Act, 2006 (Act 722).
“This amounts to an illegal operation of lottery services that undermines Ghana’s regulated lottery system,” the petition notes.
Alleged Tax Evasion by Multiple Firms
The petition also accuses Agongo’s companies of failing to pay corporate taxes since their inception. Specifically:
Onasis Sports Company Limited (Reg. No. CSO00760425) – no tax filings since incorporation.
Onasis Sports Management and Investments International Limited (Reg. No. CS116530723) – no tax filings since incorporation.
Onasis Investment International Limited (Reg. No. CS184971124) – no tax filings since incorporation.
“This is not just a lapse; it is systematic tax evasion that deprives the state of badly needed revenue,” Mr. Iddrisu stressed.
Suspect Licensing by NLA
The petition further raises serious questions about the conduct of the NLA. It queries the legal grounds on which the authority granted Onasis Sports Company Limited a Caritas Lottery License despite the firm not being a registered Lotto Marketing Company under Act 722 and L.I. 1948.
Even more troubling is a timeline inconsistency: records indicate that Onasis Sports was only registered in April 2025, yet the NLA allegedly issued it a lottery license in 2024.
“How can a company be licensed a year before it legally existed? This anomaly suggests possible collusion and regulatory compromise,” the petition asserts.
EOCO’s Mandate and Public Interest
The petitioner insists that EOCO investigate the matter under its mandate to combat financial and economic crimes. The request highlights three areas for probe:
The legality of the *859# 5/90 lottery operations;
The tax compliance status of all Onasis-branded companies;
The role of the NLA and possible breaches of law in its dealings with Agongo’s companies.
“This is a clear matter of economic crime, tax evasion, regulatory breaches, and potential collusion between state actors and private businesses,” the petition concludes.
Who is Seidu Agongo?
Seidu Agongo is one of Ghana’s most controversial businessmen. Beyond his media empire, he has long been associated with politically sensitive financial and legal disputes.
He was a central figure in the infamous Agric Development Bank (ADB) fertilizer scandal, where questions were raised about procurement and payments involving his company, Agri Plus.
In 2018, he was dragged into a high-profile legal battle with the Bank of Ghana and the defunct uniBank, over alleged financial irregularities.
His close links with political figures and his expanding media empire through Class Media Group have kept him in the spotlight, with critics accusing him of using his outlets to shield his business interests.
With this new petition, observers believe EOCO is under pressure to demonstrate whether Ghana’s anti-graft institutions can act impartially in cases involving politically connected business moguls.
Awaiting Response
As of press time, neither EOCO, the National Lottery Authority, nor Mr. Seidu Agongo had issued a public response to the allegations.
For now, the petition adds to the growing public debate on how state institutions regulate powerful business players – and whether Ghana’s anti-corruption drive is truly alive when influential figures are involved.
