The Supreme Court in Abuja on Monday imposed a ₦5 million fine on Ambrose Albert Owuru, a former presidential candidate, for filing a frivolous and vexatious suit against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Owuru, who contested the 2019 presidential election on the platform of the Hope Democratic Party (HDP) against then-President Muhammadu Buhari, had approached the court seeking the removal of Tinubu from office. Justice Uwani Musa Aba-Aji, delivering the ruling, ordered Owuru to pay the fine to Tinubu and directed the court’s Registry to no longer entertain any frivolous originating summons from the former candidate.
Courtroom Drama and Dismissal
During the proceedings, Owuru, claiming to be a lawyer called to the Nigerian Bar in 1984, appeared in his wig and gown, attempting to argue his case. However, the court directed him to remove the attire, citing his unbecoming conduct as a lawyer. When asked why he returned to the court after having similar suits dismissed three times, Owuru’s explanations were deemed unconvincing.
Justice Aba-Aji criticized Owuru’s repeated legal actions, stating that his behavior was inappropriate for a lawyer of over 40 years of practice. The court subsequently dismissed the suit and imposed the fine as a deterrent.
Previous Legal Actions and Allegations
This latest suit, marked SC/CV/667/2023, was not Owuru’s first legal battle against Tinubu and other defendants. Earlier, the Court of Appeal had fined Owuru ₦40 million to be shared among Tinubu, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and others, for filing a similar case.
In his current suit, Owuru sought Tinubu’s removal on grounds of alleged non-qualification and usurpation of office. He also claimed he had won the 2019 presidential election, alleging that his tenure was “usurped” by Buhari and subsequently by Tinubu.
Owuru further accused Tinubu of forfeiting $460,000 to U.S. authorities over an alleged drug trafficking-related offense and being an alleged agent of the CIA, which he claimed disqualified him from holding office under Section 157 of the Nigerian Constitution.
Supreme Court’s Rejection
The Supreme Court dismissed Owuru’s claims as baseless and reiterated the validity of Tinubu’s presidency. Justice Aba-Aji emphasized that Owuru’s continuous legal battles were an abuse of the court’s processes and an attempt to harass the President and other defendants.
Final Orders
The Supreme Court’s judgment concluded with the following orders:
- ₦5 million fine to be paid by Owuru to Tinubu.
- A directive barring the Registry from accepting frivolous suits from Owuru.
