The Supreme Court of Nigeria has delivered a landmark ruling in the case of Attorney General of Lagos State v. National Sports Lottery LTD and NSL Lottery Management Co. LTD, declaring that lottery is not within the Exclusive Legislative List of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
In the well-considered judgment, the apex court held that “this suit is not for the determination of matters within the exclusive legislative list of the National Assembly of Nigeria….” The ruling was delivered on March 31, 2023, by a five-man panel of Justices of the Supreme Court led by Hon. Justice Mohammed Lawal Garba.
The Supreme Court’s decision has far-reaching implications, affirming the authority of the Lagos State Lotteries and Gaming Authority in regulating lottery and gaming activities within the state. As the court emphasized, “The suit is not for the determination of matters within the Exclusive list of the National Assembly of Nigeria such as to deprive a State High Court of jurisdiction over it.”
This landmark judgment underscores the power and jurisdiction of the Lagos State Lottery and Gaming Authority in overseeing these operations, reaffirming the state’s dedication to upholding legal principles and safeguarding the welfare of its citizens in matters concerning lotteries and gaming.
