The Supreme Court, yesterday, imposed a N5 million fine on a former presidential candidate, Ambrose Albert Owuru, for harassing President Bola Tinubu with a frivolous and vexatious suit.
Owuru, who contested the 2019 presidential election against former President Muhammadu Buhari on the platform of Hope Democratic Party (HDP), was ordered to pay the N5 million to Tinubu.
Justice Uwani Aba-Aji issued the order against the former presidential candidate while dismissing his fresh suit praying for the removal of Tinubu as Nigeria’s President.
Apart from the N5 million fine, the apex court ordered its Registry not to accept any frivolous originating summons from Owuru again.
At yesterday’s proceedings, Owuru, a British-trained lawyer, who was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1982, sought to argue his case wearing his wig and gown. But he was ordered out and directed to remove his wig and gown before he could be allowed to argue his case.
Upon complying with the orders, Owuru was asked why he came before the court again, having had his suits dismissed three times. Although he tried unsuccessfully to convince the apex court to grant him adequate audience, his explanations were rejected as unconvincing.
Following his insistence, the court threatened to refer him to the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC).
Justice Aba-Aji ruled that Owuru’s conduct was unbecoming of a lawyer of over 40 years.
