Lagos State Moves to Hold National Assembly in Contempt Over Central Gaming Bill
Lagos State Government has moved to the Supreme Court, seeking to hold the National Assembly in contempt for allegedly defying a binding court ruling through its work on the proposed Central Gaming Bill. The state argues that the federal legislature is encroaching on powers constitutionally reserved for state governments, setting the stage for a potential clash over Nigeria’s federal structure.
The dispute traces back to a landmark Supreme Court decision in November 2024, in which the court struck down the National Lottery Act (2005) outside the Federal Capital Territory. The court held that lotteries, gaming, betting, and other games of chance are not on the Exclusive or Concurrent Legislative Lists of the Nigerian Constitution, placing them under the jurisdiction of states. This judgment effectively restricted the federal government from regulating gaming activities in the states and reinforced the autonomy of state governments to govern such matters.
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Despite the ruling, Lagos State contends that the National Assembly’s Central Gaming Bill seeks to legislate on lotteries and gaming, areas the Supreme Court had already determined are beyond federal legislative power. The state, represented by Bode Olanipekun, filed a motion requesting the Supreme Court’s permission to serve Form 48, a formal notice of disobedience that is the first step in contempt proceedings. Lagos argues that the bill’s provisions, particularly clauses that pertain to lottery and gaming regulation, directly violate the apex court’s previous ruling.
