The Lagos State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Lawal Pedro (SAN), has warned the National Assembly over the proposed Central Gaming Bill, describing it as a “voyage of unconstitutionality” and a direct violation of a subsisting Supreme Court judgment which vests control of lotteries, gaming, and betting exclusively in the states.
Pedro made the remarks on Wednesday during a press briefing at the Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre, Alausa, Ikeja. He was flanked by top government officials, including the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Gbenga Omotosho; Solicitor-General and Permanent Secretary, Mr. Hamid Oyenuga; and the Managing Director of the Lagos State Lotteries Board, Mr. Bashir Are.
Referencing the landmark Supreme Court judgment delivered on October 13, 2024, in Suit No. SC/1/2008 – AG Lagos & 22 Ors v. AG Federation & 13 Ors, Pedro emphasized that lotteries, gaming, and betting are residual matters under the 1999 Constitution and therefore fall solely within the legislative competence of state governments — except in the Federal Capital Territory.
“The Supreme Court has spoken clearly and finally,” Pedro stated. “It declared the National Lottery Act unconstitutional and restrained the Federal Government and its agencies from regulating gaming and lotteries across the states. To attempt to legislate again on the same subject is to defy the Supreme Court, violate the Constitution, and invite constitutional chaos.”
He faulted proponents of the Central Gaming Bill for claiming that it differs from previous legislation because it focuses on online and remote gaming.
“My question to them is: does ‘online’ mean ‘federal’? Whether a ticket is sold across a counter or through a mobile app, it remains a game of chance conducted within a state. Technology has not changed the character of the activity,” he said.
Citing extensively from the Supreme Court’s decision, the Attorney-General reminded lawmakers that the apex court had nullified the National Lottery Act 2005 and issued perpetual injunctions restraining the Federal Government from enforcing it within state territories.
Pedro stressed that once the Supreme Court decides a constitutional matter, its judgment becomes final and binding on all persons and authorities in the Federal Republic of Nigeria — including the Executive and the Legislature.
He argued that the National Assembly lacks the power to indirectly overturn the judgment without first amending the Constitution to include lotteries and gaming in the Exclusive Legislative List.
“Proceeding with the Bill would have grave implications,” he cautioned. “First, it would amount to legislating in defiance of a binding Supreme Court decision — the highest expression of contempt of court. Second, it would overstep constitutional boundaries and encroach upon state powers. Third, it would compel the states to return to the Supreme Court on a matter already conclusively decided.”
Pedro further noted that the proposed Central Gaming Bill contradicts ongoing constitutional amendment efforts aimed at devolving powers to the states, saying it would instead “centralize authority that rightly belongs to them.”
He therefore urged the Senate to reject concurrence to the Bill (HB.2062), which seeks to repeal the National Lottery Act 2005 and establish a federal regulatory framework for online and remote gaming across Nigeria.
“This is not about Lagos State,” Pedro declared. “It is about Nigeria — about protecting the integrity of the Supreme Court and preserving our federation as envisioned by the Constitution. The strength of our democracy lies not in the might of any institution, but in the Rule of Law.”
Pedro reaffirmed Lagos State’s commitment to defending constitutionalism, federalism, and judicial authority in the country.
The Central Gaming Bill, which has already been passed by the House of Representatives and is now before the Senate for concurrence, seeks to establish a unified federal framework for regulating online and remote gaming nationwide. However, critics insist that the proposal conflicts with the Supreme Court’s 2024 ruling, which reaffirmed states’ exclusive powers over lotteries and gaming activities within their territories.