S’Court slams N5m fine on ex-presidential candidate over suit against Tinubu

The Supreme Court has awarded a N5 million fine against a presidential candidate in the 2019 general election, Ambrose Owuru, for filing a suit described as “frivolous and vexatious” against President Bola Tinubu.

The five-member panel of justices, in a judgement read by Justice Uwani Aba-Aji on Monday, December 16, 2024, also ordered the Supreme Court registry not to accept any frivolous suit from Owuru henceforth.

Owuru, a British-trained lawyer, was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1982.

He was the presidential candidate of the defunct Hope Democratic Party (HDP) in the 2019 presidential election.

In the suit marked: SC/CV/667/2023, Owuru prayed the apex court to sack Tinubu on two major grounds of alleged non-qualification to hold office and usurpation of the same office against the law of the country.

The lawyer, who filed the suit directly at the Supreme Court, sued former President Muhammadu Buhari, the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and Tinubu as first to fourth defendants, respectively.

The plaintiff insisted that he won the 2019 presidential election but that his tenure was allegedly usurped by Buhari for eight years.

He claimed that his suit at the Supreme Court which would have kicked Buhari out of office was technically jettisoned by the Supreme Court due to a mix-up in the hearing dates.

When the case was called on Monday, Owuru stood to argue his case wearing his wig and gown.

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He was, however, ordered out of the Bar and directed to remove his wig and gown before he could be allowed to argue his case.

Upon complying with the orders, Owuru was asked why he came before the court again, having had his suits dismissed three times.

Although he tried unsuccessfully to convince the Supreme Court to grant him an adequate audience, his explanations were rejected as unconvincing.

Following his recalcitrant, the court threatened to refer him to the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC).

Justice Aba-Aji, in the judgement, held that Owuru’s conduct was unbecoming of a lawyer of over 40 years, as he claimed to be.

Justice Aba-Aji lashed out at Owuru for taking the “court for a ride, wasting its precious time with a baseless suit, and grossly abusing the court processes.”

The judge consequently dismissed the suit and awarded N5 million against Owuru and in favour of Tinubu

The Court of Appeal had previously imposed a fine of N40 million on Owuru, to be paid to Tinubu, INEC, and others for filing a suit against them.

The Star