The Lagos State Government has escalated its constitutional battle with the National Assembly, filing a motion before the Supreme Court seeking leave to initiate contempt proceedings against the federal legislature.

The move comes in response to the National Assembly’s continued efforts to pass the Central Gaming Bill, a proposed law which Lagos State argues directly violates a subsisting 2024 judgment of the apex court.

The application, filed by Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Bode Olanipekun, on behalf of the Attorney-General of Lagos State, seeks the Supreme Court’s permission to commence judgment enforcement proceedings by issuing Form 48.

In Nigerian jurisprudence, Form 48 serves as a formal warning to any person or body in contempt of a court order, failure to obey which can lead to committal to prison.

In the supporting affidavit, Lagos State contended that the National Assembly’s work on the Central Gaming Bill directly contravenes the Supreme Court’s landmark judgment delivered on 22 November 2024, in the case of SC.1/2008 – Attorney-General of Lagos State & Ors. v. Attorney-General of the Federation & Ors.

That 2024 judgment had categorically ruled that lottery and gaming fall outside the legislative competence of the National Assembly.

The apex court held that since these subjects are not listed on the Exclusive or Concurrent Legislative Lists of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), they are residual matters reserved exclusively for State Houses of Assembly.

Lagos State specifically argued that Clauses 7 and 21–64 of the proposed Central Gaming Bill are unconstitutional, as they relate entirely to lottery and gaming.

It noted that these provisions effectively replicate the nullified sections of the former National Lottery Act, which the Supreme Court had struck down in the same 2024 ruling.

Of particular concern is Clause 62 of the Central Gaming Bill, which Lagos State stressed contains “savings provisions” intended to revalidate actions taken under the voided National Lottery Act.

The state views this as a blatant and direct defiance of the Supreme Court’s authority and a legislative attempt to circumvent a judicial pronouncement.

The Lagos State Attorney-General further submitted that since the Supreme Court’s definitive 2024 ruling, the Constitution has not been altered to include lottery or gaming on the Federal Lists. (Nigerian Tribune)