Supreme Court Ruling Sparks Renewed Threat Of Betting Shop Shutdowns On Kano

Supreme Court Ruling Sparks Renewed Threat Of Betting Shop Shutdowns On Kano

Kano State’s Hisbah, the Sharia police, has threatened to resume crackdowns on betting shops following the Nigerian Supreme Court’s recent ruling on gambling. The court decision, made on Friday, November 22, 2024, annulled a 2005 law that established a national lottery…READ MORE…

commission and legalized sports betting and gambling activities.

The ruling clarified that the regulation of gambling falls within the jurisdiction of individual state governments. Kano, a predominantly Muslim state where Sharia law is enforced alongside federal laws, is one of the 12 states with such a dual legal system.

Abba Sufi, the Director General of Kano’s Hisbah, stated that the organization would restart its enforcement efforts, as gambling is forbidden under Kano’s Sharia law. “We will resume our clampdown on betting shops with renewed determination,” Sufi told AFP, highlighting that the legal framework around gambling is a matter of religious principle for the state.

Recently, Hisbah operations led to the closure of several football betting shops in the city, which were deemed to violate Islamic teachings. However, these actions were paused after the National Lottery Commission objected, citing the 2005 Lottery Act, which legalizes betting activities at the federal level.

Sufi emphasized that the Supreme Court ruling has resolved the debate over whether state or federal laws should govern gambling in Nigeria. He reiterated Kano’s opposition to the 2005 law, which he argued gave legitimacy to activities prohibited in Islam.

Kano’s gaming industry, which includes around 200 betting establishments, has drawn concern from both religious authorities and parents, with many complaining about young people being lured into gambling due to the popularity of football. The economic strain is also contributing to a rise in gambling, as people seek quick financial gains, according to Sufi.

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