Supreme Court Ruling: National Lottery Act Deemed Unconstitutional

Supreme Court Ruling: National Lottery Act Deemed UnconstitutionalThe Supreme Court has struck down the National Lottery Act of 2005, ruling that the National Assembly lacks the constitutional authority to legislate on lotteries and games of chance. In a unanimous decision handed down on Friday, a seven-member panel of justices determined that such powers fall solely within the jurisdiction of state Houses of Assembly.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

The court’s ruling means that only state governments have the legal right to regulate lotteries and related activities within their respective territories. Justice Mohammed Idris, who delivered the lead judgment, stated that the National Lottery Act 2005 is no longer applicable in the states, except in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), where the National Assembly retains legislative power.

The case dates back to a 2008 lawsuit filed by Lagos State and several other states, with Ekiti State joining as a co-plaintiff in 2020. Attorneys general from 34 additional states were named as defendants in 2022. The plaintiffs argued that lottery regulation does not fall within the 68 items listed under Part 1 of the Second Schedule of the 1999 Constitution, which grants the National Assembly exclusive legislative powers.

The plaintiffs sought a ruling to confirm that the National Assembly cannot enact laws to regulate lotteries on a national scale.

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