Supreme Court Penalizes Former Presidential Candidate ₦5 Million for Baseless Suit Against Tinubu

The Supreme Court in Abuja has ordered Ambrose Albert Owuru, a former presidential candidate, to pay ₦5 million for filing what it termed a frivolous and unwarranted lawsuit challenging the presidency of Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The judgment, delivered on Monday by Justice Uwani Musa Aba-Aji, condemned Owuru’s repeated misuse of the judiciary to pursue baseless claims. The court dismissed his latest case and barred its Registry from entertaining any further frivolous suits filed by the former candidate.

Owuru’s Claims and Allegations

Owuru, who contested the 2019 presidential election under the Hope Democratic Party (HDP), sought Tinubu’s removal from office. He alleged that Tinubu was unqualified to hold the position of president due to issues stemming from a past forfeiture of $460,000 to U.S. authorities, which he linked to allegations of drug-related offenses.

Owuru also claimed that his 2019 electoral mandate was unlawfully taken by former President Muhammadu Buhari and later “usurped” by Tinubu. He argued that these circumstances rendered Tinubu’s presidency invalid under the Nigerian Constitution.

Courtroom Incident

During the proceedings, Owuru, who identified himself as a legal practitioner called to the Bar in 1984, appeared in his wig and gown to personally present his arguments. However, the court directed him to remove the attire, describing his conduct as unbecoming of a senior lawyer.

When asked to explain why he had returned to court after having similar cases dismissed multiple times, Owuru provided responses the court found unconvincing. Justice Aba-Aji criticized his persistence in filing baseless suits, describing it as an abuse of the judicial system and unbecoming of a lawyer with over 40 years of experience.

History of Legal Battles

This ruling is not Owuru’s first penalty for filing unfounded lawsuits. Earlier, the Court of Appeal fined him ₦40 million to be shared among Tinubu, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and other respondents for a similar case.

In his latest legal challenge, marked SC/CV/667/2023, Owuru sought to disqualify Tinubu from office, citing alleged constitutional violations and claiming his presidency lacked legitimacy.

Supreme Court’s Verdict

The Supreme Court dismissed Owuru’s suit, emphasizing that it was not only baseless but also a clear attempt to misuse the judicial process to harass the President. Justice Aba-Aji reiterated that Owuru’s continuous legal battles undermined the integrity of the judiciary.

The court concluded its judgment with two major directives:

1.  Owuru must pay ₦5 million as a fine to President Tinubu.
2.  The Supreme Court Registry is prohibited from accepting further frivolous cases initiated by Owuru.

Significance of the Ruling

This decision reinforces the judiciary’s commitment to curbing abuse of court processes and discouraging baseless lawsuits. It also serves as a warning to individuals seeking to exploit the legal system for personal or political gain.