Supreme Court Imposes ₦5 Million Fine on Ex-Presidential Candidate for Filing Frivolous Lawsuit Against Tinubu
The Supreme Court of Nigeria has imposed a ₦5 million fine on Ambrose Albert Owuru, a former presidential candidate, for filing a baseless and frivolous lawsuit against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. The court deemed the legal challenge an act of harassment, resulting in the monetary penalty, which Owuru is required to pay to Tinubu.
Owuru, who contested the 2019 presidential election under the banner of the Hope Democratic Party (HDP), had previously challenged the election results in the past. This time, his lawsuit sought the removal of President Tinubu from office, furthering his history of challenging the legitimacy of the current administration.
Justice Uwani Musa Aba-Aji, presiding over the case, dismissed Owuru’s suit and ordered that he pay the fine to the President. The court also made it clear that any future frivolous legal petitions filed by Owuru would be rejected by the Supreme Court’s Registry. This ruling underscores the court’s commitment to upholding the integrity of legal proceedings and discouraging the misuse of the judicial system for frivolous and vexatious lawsuits.
During the hearing, Owuru, who has claimed to be a lawyer since being admitted to the Nigerian Bar in 1984, attempted to represent himself. He appeared in court wearing his lawyer’s wig and gown. However, the court intervened, instructing him to remove his wig and gown before proceeding. After complying with the order, Owuru continued with his attempt to convince the court to consider his suit.
The court, however, expressed frustration with his repeated appearances in similar cases, as his previous suits had all been dismissed. Owuru had filed similar challenges in the past, all of which were thrown out by the courts due to lack of merit. Despite his insistence that his case was valid, the Supreme Court found his reasoning unconvincing.
Justice Aba-Aji, addressing Owuru’s conduct, remarked that his actions were unbecoming of someone with over 40 years of legal experience. The judge noted that Owuru’s persistent and unsuccessful legal actions had only served to waste valuable judicial resources.
Ultimately, the Supreme Court dismissed Owuru’s latest suit and upheld the fine. The ruling sends a strong message about the court’s determination to prevent the abuse of legal processes and to safeguard the credibility of the judicial system. The fine, which is intended to deter future misuse of the court, reflects the court’s stance on the importance of merit-based legal challenges in the Nigerian judicial system.
