National Assembly lacks powers to legislate on lottery – Supreme Court

National Assembly lacks powers to legislate on lottery – Supreme Court 

 

The Supreme Court on Friday declared that the National Assembly lacks the powers to legislate on issues relating to lottery and games of chance.

It thereafter nullified the National Lottery Act 2005 enacted by the National Assembly.

A unanimous judgment of a seven-member panel of Justices of the apex court took the position.

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

In the lead judgment delivered by Justice Mohammed Idris, the apex court 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 judgment was on the suit filed in 2008 by Lagos and some other states of the Federation.