The Supreme Court on Friday struck down the National Lottery Act 2005, ruling that it cannot be enforced in any state of the federation except the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

In a unanimous judgment delivered by a seven-member panel, Justice Mohammed Idris declared that the National Assembly lacks constitutional authority to legislate on matters related to lottery and games of chance, stating that such powers lie exclusively with state Houses of Assembly.

The court emphasized that only state legislatures have jurisdiction over these issues, limiting the scope of the National Lottery Act to the FCT, where the National Assembly holds legislative authority.

This landmark decision came in response to a 2008 suit filed by Lagos and other states, challenging the Federal Government’s authority to regulate lotteries and games of chance nationwide.

The judgment affirms the constitutional autonomy of states in managing lottery and gaming activities within their jurisdictions.