By Our Correspondent
The Supreme Court of Nigeria has imposed a fine of ₦5 million on Ambrose Owuru, a former presidential candidate in the 2019 elections, for filing what it termed a “frivolous and vexatious” lawsuit against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The court also barred Mr. Owuru from filing similar suits in the future.
The five-member judicial panel dismissed Mr. Owuru’s appeal, which challenged a May 2023 ruling by the Court of Appeal that had described his case as “strange, frivolous, and irritating.”
The appeal was rooted in Mr. Owuru’s grievances over the 2019 presidential election, which he claimed to have won through an alleged “referendum” unknown to Nigerian law.
During the proceedings, Mr. Owuru, representing himself, was ordered to remove his legal attire and leave the Bar for unbecoming conduct.
The justices criticized him for wasting judicial resources and abusing court processes.
Despite his attempts to argue his case, his explanations were deemed unconvincing, leading the court to threaten referral to the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC).
Bode Olanipekun, SAN, counsel to President Tinubu, highlighted the repetitive and baseless nature of Mr. Owuru’s suits, emphasizing their disruptive impact on judicial operations.
Similarly, Professor Taiwo Osipitan, SAN, assured the court that the Nigerian Bar Association would address Mr. Owuru’s actions.
Mr. Owuru had sought the removal of President Tinubu, citing allegations of foreign ties and prior legal controversies.
He claimed his mandate from the 2019 election was stolen, despite repeated dismissals of similar claims by lower and appellate courts, including the Supreme Court.
The court reaffirmed its earlier stance, dismissing the appeal and reiterating that Mr. Owuru’s grievances had no legal merit.
It further warned that such frivolous suits undermined the judiciary’s credibility and efficiency.
This marks the latest chapter in Mr. Owuru’s history of controversial election-related litigation, which has consistently failed to yield favorable outcomes.
