Supreme court nullifies enforcement of National Lottery Act in 36 states

The Supreme Court has nullified the National Lottery Act 2005 enacted by the National Assembly.

In a unanimous judgment delivered today November 22 and read by Justice Mohammed Idris, the apex court held that the National Assembly lacked the jurisdiction to legislate on issues relating to lottery and games of chance.

The court held that such powers only reside with the state Houses of Assembly, which possess exclusive jurisdiction over lottery and games of chance.

Justice Idris ordered that the National Lottery Act 2005 should no longer be enforced in all states, except the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), in respect of which the National Assembly is empowered to make laws.

The Attorney General of Lagos State had in 2018 filed the suit against the Federal Government in respect of who controls and regulates the gaming and lottery sector.

Ekiti State was joined as co-plaintiff in the suit following an order of the court made on October 6, 2020. Subsequently, attorneys general of 34 other states were joined as defendants by the Supreme Court on November 15, 2022.

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