On Monday in Abuja, the Supreme Court fined Ambrose Albert Owuru, a former presidential candidate, N5 million for harassing Bola Ahmed Tinubu with what it termed a “frivolous and vexatious” suit.
Owuru, who contested the 2019 presidential election against former President Muhammadu Buhari on the platform of the Hope Democratic Party (HDP), was ordered to pay N5 million to Tinubu.
Justice Uwani Musa Aba-Aji dismissed the suit filed by former presidential candidate Owuru, which sought the removal of Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
While rejecting the case, the Supreme Court imposed a ₦5 million fine on Owuru and barred its Registry from accepting further frivolous suits from him.
During Monday’s proceedings, Owuru, a lawyer called to the Nigerian Bar in 1984, attempted to argue his case in his wig and gown.
The court ordered him to remove his attire before proceeding. Upon complying, Owuru was questioned on his persistence, given that his previous suits had been dismissed three times.
His explanations were deemed unconvincing, and the court warned that his conduct might be referred to the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC).
Justice Aba-Aji criticized Owuru’s behavior as unbecoming of a lawyer with over 40 years of experience.
Ultimately, the court dismissed the suit and fined Owuru ₦5 million, describing his actions as a gross abuse of court processes.
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Before the case was dismissed, Tinubu’s counsel, Bode Olanipekun SAN, highlighted Owuru’s history of frivolous litigation, including prior cases dismissed for lack of merit.
He noted that the latest suit was poorly framed, making it difficult to comprehend its direction. Olanipekun also expressed difficulty in apologizing to the court on Owuru’s behalf due to the applicant’s repeated misconduct.
Taiwo Osipitan SAN, another Senior Advocate of Nigeria, assured the court that Owuru’s actions would be reported to the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA).
The court further recalled that the Court of Appeal had previously fined Owuru ₦40 million for filing similar baseless suits against Tinubu, INEC, and others.
The latest case, SC/CV/667/2023, sought Tinubu’s removal on grounds of alleged non-qualification and purported usurpation of the presidency.
Defendants included former President Muhammadu Buhari, the Attorney General of the Federation, INEC, and Tinubu.
Owuru, a British-trained lawyer, claimed to have won the 2019 presidential election and alleged that his tenure had been usurped by Buhari for eight years.
He argued that a Supreme Court case meant to remove Buhari was derailed due to a mix-up in hearing dates.
Owuru also accused Tinubu of forfeiting $460,000 in the United States over alleged drug-related offenses and claimed Tinubu acted as a CIA agent, disqualifying him from holding the presidency.
Citing Section 157 of the 1999 Constitution, Owuru urged the Supreme Court to remove Tinubu, declare him (Owuru) as president, and order his immediate inauguration to reclaim his “usurped mandate.”
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