Hisbah Resume Crackdown On Betting Shops Nationwide
The Islamic morality police in Kano State, northern Nigeria, have vowed to intensify their efforts in shutting down betting shops following a recent ruling by the Nigerian Supreme Court.
The court, in a landmark decision on Friday, quashed a 2005 law that legalised sports betting and gambling, declaring that regulation of gambling falls under the jurisdiction of state governments.
Kano State, which operates under a dual legal system incorporating both federal and Islamic sharia law, has long prohibited gambling, deeming it illegal under the principles of sharia.
Meanwhile, the Kano Hisbah Board, tasked with enforcing sharia law, has confirmed plans to resume raids on betting establishments across the city.
Abba Sufi, Director General of the Kano Hisbah, stated, “We will resume our clampdown on betting shops with renewed determination since betting is illegal under Kano State sharia law.”
The Hisbah had previously raided and shut down dozens of football betting shops in the city last month, citing their promotion of gambling activities.
It was reported that raids on betting shops were halted following protests from the National Lottery Commission, which argued that football betting is legal under Nigeria’s 2005 Lottery Act, according to Sufi.
“This verdict resolves the controversy over whether lottery legislation falls under federal or state jurisdiction,” Sufi stated.
He further explained, “In Kano, we oppose the lottery law because it legitimizes gambling, which is strictly prohibited in Islam.”
There are about 200 betting shops across the city, equipped with television screens where customers watch international soccer matches and horse races while placing bets, said Sydney Emeafu, president of the National Union of Gaming and Lottery Workers (NUGLOW) in Kano.
Sufi noted that the raids were initiated in response to complaints from parents concerned about children being drawn into gambling through their passion for football.
“The difficult economic situation is driving more people toward football betting as a way to make quick money, but many end up trapped in this vice,” he added.
