Supreme Court Dismisses Suit Seeking Tinubu’s Removal, Fines Plaintiff N5 Million

Abuja, Nigeria- The Supreme Court on Monday dismissed a suit filed by Ambrose Owuru, the 2019 Hope Democratic Party (HDP) presidential candidate, seeking to remove President Bola Tinubu from office.

A five-member panel of the apex court, led by Justice Uwani Aba-Aji, ruled that the case was frivolous and imposed a N5 million fine on Owuru for wasting the court’s time.

The court further directed its registry to reject any future frivolous suits from Owuru, a British-trained lawyer, who had alleged that Tinubu was unqualified to hold the presidency and accused him of usurping the office unlawfully.

The case with suit number SC/CV/667/2023, was dismissed as lacking merit. Justice Aba-Aji, delivering the lead judgment, emphasized the importance of preventing abuse of the judicial process through baseless litigations.

Former President Muhammadu Buhari, the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and Tinubu were listed as respondents in the suit.

Owuru insisted that he won the 2019 presidential poll but his tenure was allegedly usurped by Buhari for eight years.

He claimed that his suit at the Supreme Court which would have kicked Buhari out of office was technically jettisoned by the apex court due to mix-up in the hearing dates.

When the case was called on Monday, Owuru stood to argue his own case wearing his wig and gown.

However, he was ordered out of the Bar and directed to remove his wig and gown before he could be allowed to argue his case.

After he complied with the orders, Owuru was asked why he came before the court again, having had his suits dismissed three times.

However, his efforts to convince the apex court to grant him audience were rejected as unconvincing.

Following his recalcitrant, the court threatened to refer him to the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC) for appropriate sanctions.

Meanwhile, in his ruling, Justice Aba-Aji held that Owuru’s conduct was unbecoming of a lawyer of over 40 years.

He berated the plaintiff for taking the court for a ride and wasted its precious time with baseless suit and grossly abusing the processes.king the court for a ride and wasted its precious time with baseless suit and grossly abusing the processes.