By Vivian Okejeme Abuja
Fifteen years later, the Supreme Court, Monday, fixed March 13, 2024, to hear a suit filed in 2008, by the Attorney General of Lagos State against the Federal Government, in respect of who controls and regulates the gaming and lottery sector.
Ekiti state was joined as co-Plaintiff in the suit following an order of the court made on October 6, 2020.
The Attorney General of the Federation is the 1st Defendant while the National Assembly is 2nd Defendant.
The Attorneys General of 34 other States, were joined as defendants by the Supreme Court on November 15, 2022.
A 7-man panel of the Supreme Court led by Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, fixed the date at a resumed sitting on Monday.
Bode Olanipekun SAN, announced appearance for Lagos State Government while Adetunji Osho appeared for Ekiti state.
The Federal Government (1st Defendant) was represented by Innocent Daa’gba, while Ifeanyi Mrialike represented the National Assembly.
The Attorneys General of the 33 States were duly represented and announced appearances.
However, there was no legal representation for Kwara state despite being served with hearing notice.
The Supreme Court ordered Jigawa and Kaduna State Governments to put their houses in order by resolving the issue of legal representation before the next hearing date.
Meanwhile, the apex court panel unanimously deemed all the processes filed out of time by the defendants as duly and properly filed, having been regularized.
The application by the Attorney General of Oyo state to join as co- Plaintiff having been withdrawn, was struck out by panel.
Justice Kekere-Ekun advised that all the State Governments that are on one side in accordance with their respective interests should present a common argument in order to save the time of the court on the hearing date.
Speaking to judiciary correspondents at the Supreme Court, Innocent Daagba, said he had filed processes and submissions of the Federal Government since 2020, adding that the processes have been regularized by the court, which clears the coast for hearing of the matter.
Recall that on 15 August 2022, the Federal Government (the Nigerian Lottery Regulation commission and the Nigerian Lottery Trust fund) won against Lagos and other States, on the issue of multiple regulation in the gaming sector.
The Bookmakers association of Nigeria had initiated the lawsuit to determine the legitimate regulators of gaming businesses because they complained about paying multiple taxes and licensing fees to States and the Federal Government.
In the Suit NO: FHC/L/CS/15992020, filed before Hon. Justice I.N Oweibo of the Lagos High Court, the Judge declared that the Federal Government should be the sole regulator of gaming business in the country as the constitution is clear on the position of lottery in the exclusive list and the National Assembly can legislate on lottery matters.
