The Lagos State Government has initiated contempt proceedings against the National Assembly over its continued push to pass the Central Gaming Bill, despite a subsisting Supreme Court judgment that invalidated federal authority over lottery and gaming regulation.
In a motion filed by Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Lagos is seeking the apex court’s permission to issue Form 48, a legal notice that precedes contempt or committal proceedings. Under Nigerian law, Form 48 serves as a formal warning to any person or authority acting in defiance of a court order. If the alleged contempt is not purged, it could result in committal to prison The Punch The Nation Newspaper.
The Supreme Court had earlier ruled in SC.1/2008: Attorney-General of Lagos State & Ors. v. Attorney-General of the Federation, that the federal government lacked constitutional authority to legislate on gaming and lottery matters. Lagos argues that the National Assembly’s current efforts to enact the Central Gaming Bill directly contravene this judgment Vanguard News.
Legal counsel Bode Olanipekun (SAN), representing Lagos, emphasized that the state is merely seeking to enforce a judgment already delivered by the highest court in the land. The motion includes an affidavit detailing how the National Assembly’s actions undermine judicial authority and violate the principle of separation of powers The Nation Newspaper Leadership News.
This legal clash underscores the ongoing tension between federal and state governments over regulatory control, particularly in sectors like gaming, taxation, and resource management. It also raises broader questions about constitutional compliance, judicial enforcement, and the limits of legislative authority.
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