In a groundbreaking decision, the Supreme Court has struck down the National Lottery Act of 2005, declaring it unconstitutional. This historic judgment arose from a legal battle initiated in 2008 by Lagos State and several others, challenging the National Assembly’s authority over lottery legislation.
Delivering the unanimous verdict on the 22nd of November, 2024, a seven-member panel of justices, led by Justice Mohammed Idris, ruled that the National Assembly exceeded its powers.
The court affirmed that legislative control over lotteries and games of chance lies solely with state Houses of Assembly, granting them exclusive jurisdiction in this domain.
Consequently, the Supreme Court directed that the National Lottery Act of 2005 must cease to be enforced across all states of the federation, leaving its applicability restricted to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
This landmark ruling redefines the boundaries of legislative authority in Nigeria.