Dismissal of Latest Suit Against Tinubu
The Supreme Court of Nigeria has fined Ambrose Owuru, a former presidential candidate, N5 million for what they described as harassing President Bola Tinubu with groundless and annoying legal actions. Owuru, who ran for president in 2019 under the Hope Democratic Party (HDP), was instructed to pay this fine directly to Tinubu.
Further Court Restrictions on Owuru
Justice Uwani Musa Aba-Aji, while dismissing Owuru’s most recent attempt to oust Tinubu from the presidency, also directed the Supreme Court’s Registry to reject any future frivolous legal filings from Owuru. This decision was made after Owuru, claiming to be a lawyer since 1984, appeared in court in his barrister’s wig and gown, only to be asked to remove them before proceeding.
Court’s Critique of Owuru’s Conduct
During the proceedings, Owuru faced scrutiny for repeatedly bringing dismissed cases back to court. Despite his efforts to argue his case, his explanations were deemed inadequate, leading to threats from the court of referring him to the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee. Justice Aba-Aji criticized Owuru’s behavior as unbefitting a seasoned legal professional.
Background of Legal Actions
The court’s frustration stemmed from a history of dismissed lawsuits by Owuru, including a previous N40 million fine from the Court of Appeal for similar actions against Tinubu, INEC, and others. This most recent suit against Tinubu was based on allegations of ineligibility for office and unauthorized assumption of the presidency.
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Allegations and Legal Grounds
Owuru’s lawsuit claimed that Tinubu was unfit to hold office due to previous financial forfeitures in the U.S. linked to drug trafficking and accusations of being a CIA agent, which he argued was against Nigerian law under Section 157 of the 1999 Constitution. He also sought to be declared Nigeria’s rightful president, claiming his previous electoral mandate was overlooked due to judicial errors.
Court’s Final Judgment
The Supreme Court not only dismissed Owuru’s suit but also condemned the waste of judicial time and resources, describing his actions as an abuse of the legal process. Before the dismissal, Tinubu’s legal representative, Bode Olanipekun SAN, pointed out the repetitive and poorly constructed nature of Owuru’s legal filings, further emphasizing the court’s view of the case’s lack of merit.
