The Supreme Court has declared the National Lottery Act 2005 invalid, stating it overstepped the constitutional powers of the National Assembly.
The court ruled that the authority to regulate lotteries and gaming lies exclusively with state legislatures, except within the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Justice Mohammed Idris, delivering the lead ruling, emphasised that lotteries are not listed in the Constitution’s Exclusive Legislative List.
This means the federal legislature cannot enact laws governing such matters nationwide.
The court also granted Lagos State and other plaintiffs reliefs they sought, affirming that state assemblies alone have jurisdiction over lotteries.
The judgment further prohibited federal authorities, including the Attorney General of the Federation, from enforcing the Lottery Act in states.
It clarified that the federal government’s powers on the issue are limited to the FCT.
This lawsuit, initiated by Lagos State in 2008, later included other states as plaintiffs.
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