A major international gaming fraud is unfolding as criminal complaints have been filed against Ntoudi Mouyelo, a former Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) of BetPawa, over the alleged disappearance of US$3.5 million linked to an online gaming licence deal.
The allegations centre on claims of fraud, forgery, and theft arising from a cross-border gaming transaction involving Ivory Coast and Rwanda, now under criminal investigation by authorities in both jurisdictions.
According to information contained in the complaints, the US$3.5 million was advanced by PawaTech as part of an arrangement to acquire an online gaming and casino licence, a process allegedly facilitated by Mr Mouyelo.
Investigators say the funds were released after Mr Mouyelo presented what was purported to be an official letter from LONACI, the Ivory Coast Gaming Authority, requesting payment of the licence acquisition cost.
The letter, which reportedly carried the appearance of regulatory approval, formed the basis on which PawaTech authorised and transferred the funds, believing the transaction to be legitimate and regulator-backed.
However, subsequent checks allegedly revealed that the letter attributed to LONACI was a forgery, triggering alarm bells and prompting formal complaints to law enforcement authorities.
Further inquiries reportedly established that LONACI had not received any portion of the US$3.5 million, nor had it authorised Mr Mouyelo or his affiliates to collect funds on its behalf.
As a result, criminal claims alleging forgery, fraud, and theft have been filed against Mr Mouyelo and unnamed affiliates, with investigators now working to trace the missing funds.
The matter has since expanded beyond Ivory Coast, with parallel criminal complaints also lodged in Rwanda, reflecting the multinational nature of the alleged scheme.
According to the filings, investigators from the Rwanda Investigation Bureau (RIB) opened a probe into the transaction after concerns were raised about the handling and destination of the funds.
The complaints further allege that upon learning of the investigation, Mr Mouyelo began blackmailing the company involved, allegedly threatening to disclose confidential business information.
These alleged actions, investigators say, may constitute additional criminal offences and have reportedly been added to the scope of the ongoing inquiry in Rwanda.
The case has attracted attention within the African gaming industry, where regulators and operators are increasingly scrutinising cross-border licensing arrangements and financial transactions.
Legal experts note that if the allegations are substantiated, the case could set an important precedent for accountability in the rapidly growing online gaming sector across Africa.
As investigations continue in both Ivory Coast and Rwanda, authorities have emphasised that all allegations remain subject to due process, while the complainants insist they are seeking full recovery of the missing US$3.5 million and justice through the courts.
