The Supreme Court has nullified the National Lottery Act of 2005 enacted by the National Assembly which gave the federal government powers to set up a lotteries board.
In a unanimous decision on Friday, a seven-member panel of the apex court held that the National Assembly has no powers to legislate on issues relating to lottery and games of chance for states.
The court held that such powers only reside with the state Houses of Assembly, which possess exclusive jurisdiction over lottery and games of chance.
In the lead judgment by Justice Mohammed Idris, 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.