Supreme Court Decline to Sack President Tinubu

Supreme Court Dismisses Suit Seeking to Remove President Bola Tinubu

The Supreme Court, on Monday, in a landmark ruling that underscores the judicial system’s commitment to legal integrity, decisively rejected a lawsuit seeking to remove President Bola Tinubu from office.

The court’s unanimous decision came with a sharp rebuke to the plaintiff, Ambrose Owuru, a British-trained lawyer and former Hope Democratic Party presidential candidate, who was slapped with a N5 million fine for what the justices deemed a frivolous legal action.

The five-member panel, led by Justice Uwani Musa Abba-Aji, delivered a comprehensive judgment that not only dismissed the suit but also sent a strong message about the abuse of legal processes.

Owuru’s lawsuit, filed under the case number SC/CV/667/2023, contained a series of provocative allegations against President Tinubu, including claims that he was an active agent of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and unfit to hold presidential office due to a previous $460,000 forfeiture in a drug-related case.

When the case was called, the proceedings took an unusual turn. Owuru, attempting to argue his own case, was initially ordered to remove his lawyer’s wig and gown before being permitted to address the court.

This symbolic action set the tone for the hearing, with the justices quickly exposing the lack of merit in the plaintiff’s arguments.

The Supreme Court’s ruling was particularly noteworthy for its comprehensive rejection of Owuru’s claims.

Not content with merely dismissing the suit, the court went further, threatening to refer Owuru to the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC) for potential sanctions.

Justice Abba-Aji was particularly critical, lambasting Owuru for what she described as conduct unbecoming of a lawyer with over 40 years of professional experience.

This was not Owuru’s first attempt to challenge a sitting president through legal means. Previously, he had filed similar suits against former President Muhammadu Buhari, including attempts to prevent his inauguration and claims of electoral manipulation.

The Court of Appeal had already imposed a N40 million fine on him in May 2023 for a previous frivolous suit.

The lawsuit named multiple high-profile respondents, including President Tinubu, former President Buhari, the Attorney-General of the Federation, and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Owuru’s most audacious claim was that he was the true winner of the 2019 presidential election, asserting that he had garnered over 50 million votes in a purported referendum.

The Supreme Court’s ruling does more than resolve a single legal challenge. It represents a robust defense of the democratic process, sending a clear message about the consequences of filing groundless legal challenges to electoral outcomes.

By imposing a significant financial penalty and threatening professional sanctions, the court has established a strong deterrent against frivolous litigation.

For President Tinubu, the ruling represents another affirmation of his legitimate presidency. The Supreme Court’s decisive action effectively puts to rest yet another attempt to challenge his right to lead the nation, providing further clarity and stability to Nigeria’s political landscape.