The Supreme Court in Abuja on Monday imposed a N5 million fine on Ambrose Albert Owuru, a former presidential candidate, for filing a baseless and vexatious lawsuit against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Owuru, who contested the 2019 presidential election under the Hope Democratic Party (HDP) against then-President Muhammadu Buhari, was ordered to pay the fine directly to Tinubu.
Justice Uwani Musa Aba-Aji delivered the judgment, dismissing Owuru’s new lawsuit, which sought Tinubu’s removal as Nigeria’s President. In addition to the financial penalty, the Supreme Court instructed its Registry to reject any further frivolous originating summons from Owuru in the future.
During the proceedings, Owuru, a lawyer called to the Nigerian Bar in 1984, appeared in court wearing a wig and gown to argue his case personally. However, he was ordered to remove his legal attire before proceeding. The Court questioned his decision to file yet another suit after three previous dismissals of similar claims. Despite his efforts to justify the new lawsuit, the Court found his arguments unpersuasive.
Justice Aba-Aji criticized Owuru’s conduct, deeming it unbecoming of a lawyer with over 40 years of professional experience. Consequently, the Supreme Court dismissed his case and reinforced the N5 million fine.
This latest judgment follows an earlier ruling by the Court of Appeal, which had fined Owuru N40 million to be shared among Tinubu, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and other parties for a related suit. The dismissed suit, identified as SC/CV/667/2023, called for Tinubu’s removal based on allegations of non-qualification and usurpation of office. Owuru claimed he won the 2019 presidential election but alleged that Buhari wrongfully occupied his mandate for eight years. He also accused Tinubu of forfeiting $460,000 in a U.S. drug-related case and being under foreign influence, charges the Court deemed baseless.