Ogboru’s Case against Uduaghan, an Abuse of Court Processes – Supreme Court

Awards Cost against Ogboru

Supreme Court of Nigeria, sitting in Abuja on Monday threw out the case brought before it by Chief Great Ogboru of the Democratic Peoples Party(DPP), describing the matter as nothing but an abuse of court processes.

Ogboru had requested the Supreme Court to reverse itself on the already settled issue of the 2011 governorship election in Delta State.

But Justice Walter Onoghene who led the 7 man panel ruled the suit amounted to gross abuse of court process and awarded a cost of N2 million to each of the respondents to be paid for by the counsel to Chief Ogboru.

Speaking on the judgment, Commissioner for Information, Delta State, Mr. Chike Ogeah, explained that by the judgment, the learned jurists of the apex court have once again affirmed its status as the custodian and protector of the rule of law and jurisprudence.

“ Every legal practitioner and, indeed, diligent follower of the electoral process had known that the counsel to Chief Ogboru had embarked on a vain process which intention neither served the interest of the litigant nor the judiciary.

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“The suit was intended to inflict violence on our jurisprudence and inflict great damage on the doctrine of “stare decisis”. The fact that the learned justices ruled that the counsel to Chief Ogboru should directly bear the cost of N2 million awarded to each of the respondents underscores the need for counsels to exercise caution in advising their clients.

“Even in the desire to maximize returns from clients that have entrusted their bid for justice to them, upholding the integrity of the judicial institution and protecting the interest of the clients must remain paramount.

“We commend the learned Justices of the Supreme Court for the enduring lessons passed to all legal practitioners by this landmark ruling that will to a great extent ensure responsible litigation and representation in all levels of Nigeria’s courts”, the commissioner said.