The Supreme Court has nullified the 2005 Act of the National Assembly establishing the National Lottery.
In a unanimous judgment delivered by Justice Mohammed Idris, a seven-member panel of the court unanimously held that the National Assembly lacked the powers to legislate on issues relating to lottery and games of chance.
The court held that such powers only reside with the state Houses of Assembly, which possess exclusive jurisdiction over lottery and games of chance.
The apex court consequently 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.