Nigeria: Supreme Court Sets Hearing Date for Lagos and Ekiti Lottery Regulation Suit Against Federal Government and 34 States

The Supreme Court has scheduled March 13, 2024, as the hearing date for a lawsuit initiated in 2008 by the Attorney General of Lagos State against the Federal Government concerning the control and regulation of the gaming and lottery sector.

Ekiti State was later included as a co-plaintiff in the suit following a court order issued on October 6, 2020. Subsequently, on November 15, 2022, the Supreme Court added the attorneys general of 34 other states as defendants.

A seven-member panel, led by Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, has designated the specified date for the proceedings.

The plaintiffs are urging the apex court to declare that lottery does not fall within the 68 items for which the National Assembly has the exclusive authority to legislate under Part 1 of the Second Schedule of the 1999 Constitution as amended.

Additionally, they seek a declaration asserting that the National Assembly lacks the authority to legally and constitutionally enact any law for the regulation and control of lottery operations in Nigeria.