Hisbah to resume clampdown on betting shops after Court ruling
The Kano State Hisbah Board has announced plans to renew its crackdown on betting shops following a landmark Supreme Court ruling on gambling regulations. The court on Friday nullified the 2005 law establishing a national lottery commission, affirming that gambling legislation falls under state jurisdiction.
Abba Sufi, Director General of the Hisbah, stated that the decision reinforces the prohibition of gambling under Kano’s Sharia law. “We will resume our clampdown on betting shops with renewed determination,” Sufi told reporters, adding that the ruling resolved the conflict between federal and state authorities over gambling regulation.
Last month, Hisbah operatives raided numerous betting shops in Kano, citing violations of Islamic law. However, the raids were paused after the National Lottery Commission argued that federal law, specifically the 2005 Lottery Act, permitted sports betting.
Sufi explained that the crackdown follows complaints from parents concerned about children being drawn into gambling due to their interest in football. He also cited the economic hardship driving more residents to seek quick money through betting.
“There are around 200 betting shops in the city, attracting people to gamble on football matches and horse races,” said Sydney Emeafu, head of the National Union of Gaming and Lottery Workers in Kano.
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The Supreme Court verdict has clarified the jurisdictional ambiguity, empowering state governments like Kano to enforce their laws on gambling. Sufi remarked, “The lottery law gave legal backing to gambling, which is clearly prohibited in Islam. This verdict has resolved the controversy.”
With the legal backing now clear, the Hisbah intends to target betting operations across Kano with renewed efforts, aiming to curb what they consider a harmful practice.
This development highlights the tension between federal and state laws in Nigeria and the challenge of balancing religious and legal principles in a diverse nation.
Written by Sakinat Musa Abubakar, Editor at Neptune Prime
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