- Owuru penalised for harassing President with frivolous, vexatious suit
The Supreme Court yesterday imposed a N5-million fine against an Abuja-based lawyer, Ambrose Albert Owuru, for filing at the apex court with what it called a frivolous case.
Owuru, who said he was the presidential candidate of the now deregistered Hope Democratic Party (HDP) in 2019, had sought the removal of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on two grounds – alleged non-qualification to hold office as Nigeria’s President and alleged usurpation of the office in contravention of the law.
The respondents in the suit were: former President Muhammadu Buhari, the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and President Tinubu.
At the mention of the case yesterday, Owuru, who claimed to have been called to the Nigerian Bar in 1984, sought to argue his case, with his wig and gown on.
Justice Uwani Abba-Aji, who presided over the matter, ordered him out of the Bar and directed him to remove his wig and gown before he could address the court.
After complying with the court’s directive, another member of the court’s five-member panel asked him why he returned to the court with the same suit that had been dismissed by the apex court on three previous occasions.
His efforts to convince the court to accord him audience were rejected by the court’s panel, with a threat to refer him to the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC) for necessary action.
Justice Aba-Aji averred that Owuru’s conduct was unbecoming of a lawyer of over 40 years, as he claimed to be.
In his contribution, Bode Olanipekun (SAN), who represented President Tinubu, drew the court’s attention to several cases that Owuru had earlier filed and which the court had similarly dismissed for being frivolous.
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Olanipekun noted that the purpose the case was meant to serve was unclear because of the poor manner Owuru went about it.
He added that it was difficult for him to apologise to the court on behalf of Owuru, saying his (Owuru’s) conduct was unprofessional.
Another senior lawyer, Taiwo Osipitan (SAN), assured the court that Owuru would be referred to the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) for necessary actions.
Justice Abba-Aji dismissed the suit and ordered him to pay Tinubu N5 million.
Frowning at Owuru’s conduct and for wasting the court’s time, Justice Abba-Aji directed the court’s Registry not to accept any frivolous originating summons from Owuru again over the same issue.