Supreme Court Fines Ambrose Owuru ₦5 Million For Frivolous Suits Against President Tinubu
The Supreme Court has imposed a ₦5 million fine on Ambrose Owuru, a former presidential candidate of the Hope Democratic Party (HDP), for filing frivolous lawsuits against President Bola Tinubu. The court also barred its registry from accepting any further frivolous suits from Owuru.
Justice Uwani Musa Aba-Aji, delivering the ruling, rebuked Owuru for abusing court processes and wasting judicial resources, emphasizing that such actions undermine the judiciary’s integrity. The court also warned that his conduct could attract disciplinary measures from the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee.
The dismissed suit sought President Tinubu’s removal from office, citing allegations of non-qualification due to a €432,684.74 forfeiture in the U.S. related to an alleged drug offense and claims of influence by the CIA. Owuru also sought to be declared president, arguing that his earlier case against former President Muhammadu Buhari was dismissed due to a scheduling error.
During the proceedings, Owuru was ordered to remove his lawyer’s wig and gown after attempting to argue his case inappropriately. His arguments were deemed unconvincing by the court.
Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Bode Olanipekun, representing Tinubu, highlighted Owuru’s history of filing baseless cases, including previous lawsuits dismissed by the Court of Appeal, which fined him ₦40 million. Another SAN, Taiwo Osipitan, assured the court that Owuru’s actions would be reported to the Nigerian Bar Association.
The Supreme Court firmly dismissed Owuru’s claims, labeling them as without merit, and warned against further misuse of its time. This ruling is expected to serve as a deterrent against frivolous legal actions in the future.
