The Abuse of Legal process in Nigeria: The Remedies

The Abuse of Legal process in Nigeria: The Remedies

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Abstract

The Abuse of Legal process in Nigeria: The Remedies

Charles E. Aduaka 1 Ifeyinwa Mercy Anyaegbu2

1. Department Of Jurisprudence and International Law, Faculty of Law, Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, Nigeria
2. Faculty of Law, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria

It is trite law that the court has an inherent jurisdiction to protect itself from abuse or to see that its process was not abused. The legal practitioners as an advocate of the court must therefore pay heed to the rule of ethics which requires him never to show marked attention or unusual hospitality for judicial officers, uncalled for by the personal relations of the parties, he must therefore avoid anything calculated act to enable him or her gain or having appearance of gaining special personal consideration or favour from a judicial officer. Legal practitioners should be devoid of carrying out acts or omissions that will derail the due process of the court especially on issues like multiple institutions of actions, frivolity or reckless actions, shop-forum system, instituting different applications on the same subject matter and any form of professional misconduct at the face of the court. The judicial officers should show or adopt an adjudication  method or process based on procedural  rules of natural justice  such like fair hearing,  giving  opportunity  to counsel  to present  issues  without  fear  and intimidation, making  rulings  base  on  substantive   laws  and  maintain  accurate  case  record.  Timeous dispensation   and conclusion of matters so that there will be an end to litigant.

Keywords: Legal process, litigant, justice, judicial process

1. Introduction

The legal profession is perhaps the only profession in which marks are lost by the assertion of an original but personal opinion and won by showing that one’s best opinion has been thought of and expressed by someone else before. This presentation will commence by defining firstly, some fundamental terms having connection or relationship with the topic, abuse of legal or judicial process.

ABUSE:                the  black  law  dictionary  defines  abuse  as  “Everything  which  is  contrary  to  good  order established by usage that is a complete departure from reasonable use”

An abuse is done when one makes an excessive or improper use of a thing or to employ such thing in a manner contrary to the natural legal rules for its use110

ABUSE OF DISCRETION: Abuse of discretion is synonymous with a failure to exercise a sound reasonable and legal  discretion.  It is a strict  legal  term  indicating  that  the appellant  court  is  of the  opinion  that  there  was commission  of  an  error  of  law  by  the  trail  court.  It  does  not  imply  an  intentional  wrong  or  bad  faith  or misconduct  nor any reflection  on the judge but it connotes a clearly erroneous conclusion and judgments such that is clearly against logic and the effect of such facts as are presented in support of the application or against the reasonable and probable derivation to be drawn from the facts disclosed upon the hearing or an improvident exercise of discretion or an error of law111. It is also an unreasonable departure from considered precedents and settled judicial custom, constituting error of law. A judgment or decision by administrative agency or judge which has no foundation in facts or law amount to abuse. Abuse of discretion by a trial court is any unreasonable; unconscionable and arbitrary action taken without proper consideration of facts and law pertaining of the subject matter.112

However, it is important to note that any judgment or decision taken by a trail court or an administrative agency upon evidence submitted before it will never amount to abuse even if it was discovered later that disposition/submission   was  with  certain  disabilities  which  are  not  to  the  knowledge  of  the  court  or  the administrative agency.

ABUSE OF PROCESS:                    The gist of an action for “abuse of process” is improper use or perversion of process after it has been issued113. A malicious abuse of legal process occurs where the party employs if for some unlawful object not the purpose for

Which it is intended by the law to effect in other words a perversion of it.

1. 1 what is abuse of court or Judicial process and what constitutes abuse of court/judicial process

110 Black Law Dictionary, Sixth Edition Black, Henry Campbell, Black Law Dictionary Sixth Edition, Continental Edition

1891- 1991 P 990 P 10-11

111 State V Draper, 83 Utah 115, 27 P2d 39. Exparter Jones 246 Ala 433, 2050 2d, 859, 862.

112 Back V Wings field Inc C.C.A. Pa 122 F2d, 114, 116, 117

The concept of abuse of court/judicial process is imprecise.  It involves circumstances and situation of infinite variety and conditions.  Most of its common feature is the improper use of the judicial process by a party in litigation to interfere with the due administration of justice. It is recognized that the abuse of process may lie in either proper or improper use of the judicial process in litigation. However, the employment of judicial process is only  regarded  generally  as an abuse  when  a party  improperly  uses  the  issue  of  the  judicial  process  to the irritation and annoyance of his opponents.114

The situation  that may give rise to an abuse  of court process  are indeed in exhaustive,  it involves  situations where the process of court has not been or resorted to fairly, properly, honestly to the detriment of the other party. However, abuse of court process in addition to the above arises in the following situations.

(a)          Instituting a multiplicity of actions on the same subject matter, against the same opponent, on the same issues or multiplicity of actions on the same matter between the same parties even where there exists a right to begin the action.

(b)          Instituting different actions between the same parties simultaneously in different court even though on different grounds.

(c)          Where two similar processes are used in respect of the exercise of the same right for example a cross appeal and respondent notice.

(d)          Where  an  application  for  adjournment  is  sought  by a  party  to  an  action  to  bring  another application to court for leave to raise issue of fact already decided by court below.

(e)          Where there no iota of law supporting a court process or where it is premised on recklessness.

The abuse in this instance lies in the inconvenience and inequalities   involved in the aims and purposes of the action115

(f)           Where a party has adopted the system of forum-shopping in the enforcement of a conceived right.

(g)          Where an appellant files an application at the trail court in respect of a matter which is already subject of an earlier application by the respondent at the Court of Appeal. When the appellants application has the effect of over-reaching the respondents application.

(h)          Where  two  actions  are  commenced,  the  second  asking  for  a  relief  which  may  have  been obtained  in the first.  An abuse may also involve some bias, malice or desire to misuse or pervert the course of justice or judicial process to the irritation or annoyance of an opponent116.

2. Species of abuse of judicial process

The  concept  of  abuse  of  court/judicial  process  involves  circumstances  and situations  of infinite  variety  and conditions. It has one common feature which is the improper use of the judicial process by a party in litigation interfere with the due administration of justice. It is recognized that the abuse of judicial process may lie in both a proper or improper use of the process in litigation. Note the employment  of judicial process is only regarded generally  as  an  abuse  when  a  party  improperly  uses  the  issue  of  the  judicial  process  to the  imitation  and annoyance of his opponent and the efficient and effective administration of justice. In the words of OPUTA J.SC (as he then was) in the case of Amaefule & other V the State117 he defined abuse of judicial process as

“A  term  generally  applied  to  a  proceeding  which  is  wanting  in  bona  fides  and  is frivolous vexations and oppressive. In his words abuse of process can also mean abuse of legal procedure or improper use of the legal process”

However, instance of abuse of legal process are abound in our legal jurisprudence.

“In Arubo V Aiyeleru, the court held that

(“That the rectification of already decided issues is all abuse of courts process even if the matter is not strictly res judicata) 118

In the case of

Agwusin V Ojichie. Justice NIKI TOBI JSC observed

(“that abuse of court process create a factual scenario  where appellants are pursuing the same matter by two court process).

In other words, the appellants  by the two court process are involved in some gamble a game of chance to get the best in the judicial process. The appellant while appealing against the ruling of the

114 Public Drug Co V Breyerke cream Co, 347, Pa 346, 32A 2d 413, 415

115 Jadesimi V Okotie Eboh (1986) 1NWLR (Pt 16) 264

116 (2007) 16 NWLR (319) 335.

117 (1998) 4SCNJ 69 at 87.

Court of Appeal which struck out their appeal for want of diligent prosecution also file a motion in the court of appeal for the restoration  or relisting  of the appeal.  A litigant has no right to purse PARIPASUA two processes which will have the same effect in two courts at the same time with a view of obtaining victory in one of the process or in both. Litigation is not a game of chess where players  outsmart  themselves  by dexterity  of  purpose  and  traps.  On the  contrary,  litigation  is a contest by judicial process where the parties place on the table of justice their different  position clearly, plainly and without tricks”119

In the Learned justice humble view, the two processes were in law not available to the appellant simultaneously.  Only one  would  be available  at a time  and the choice  of each  of the two was exclusively the appellants. The appellants could appeal against the decision of the court of Appeal or in the alternative they could ask for the restoration. The pursuit of the two processes at the same time  constitutes  and  amount  to  abuse  of  court/legal  process.    Also  in  the  case  of  SARAKI V KOTOYE120  . The court in this dealt exhaustively with what constitutes abuse of process of court in his lead Judgment our eminent law lord of KARIBI –WHYTE JSC did observed.

“That the abuse of process may lie in both a proper or improper use of the judicial process in litigation. But the employment of a judicial process is only regarded generally as an abuse when a party improperly uses the issue of  the  judicial  process  to  the  irritation  and  annoyance   of  his  opponent  and  the  efficient  and  effective administration  of justice.  It can also arise by instituting  a multiplicity  of actions  on the same subject  matter against the same opponent on the same issues”. See also

OKORODUDU V OKORODUDU121

OYEBOLA V ESO WEST AFRICAN INC122

“Thus, the multiplicity of actions on the same matter between the same parties  even where there  exist  a  right  to  bring  the  action  is  regarded   as  an  abuse.  The  abuse  lies  in  the multiplicity and manner of the exercise of the right rather  than exercise of right per se. The abuse  consists in the intention,  purpose  and  aim of person  exercising  the right,  to harass, irritate,   and  annoy  the  adversary   and  interface  with  the  administration   of justice…..Essentially, it is the inconvenience inequities involved in the aims and purposes  of the application  which constitute  the  abuse.  Otherwise,  when there  is a right  to  bring  an action,  the  state  of mind of the  person  exercising  the  right  cannot  affect the  rapidity  or propriety of the exercise.”

In Okorodudu V. Okorodudu. The plaintiff commenced a suit founded on land dispute. After pleadings has been exchanged by both sides and evidence laid, the plaintiff discovered that his case would fall and be dismissed due to some defect in his case which he could not be permitted to remedy by amendment under the rules governing amendment of pleadings. The plaintiff knew that he was between the rock and the hard place. If he withdraws the suit at that stage, the court might under the rules of court, will make an order dismissing it. The plaintiff then commenced another suit the defendant objected on the ground that the commencement  of the second suit while the first suit was pending amount to an abuse of the process of court. The Supreme Court agreed and then made an order staying the second suit pending the determination of the first suit.

Clearly,  the Supreme  Court  in taking  this rather  hard line  action  against  the plaintiff  holds  the  view  that  by commencing the second suit, the plaintiff was acting in bad faith and it amount to abuse of judicial process.

It is significant that the Supreme Court did not give the plaintiff an option to elect which of the suits to pursue. Naturally, from the circumstance of the instance case, the apex court, considering the inconvenience and purpose for the commencement  of the second suit denied the plaintiff a right to election having dismissed the appellant suit where he still has a remedy to redress, one may ask the question whether such action does not negate the fundamental  natural  maxin  ubi  jus  ibi  remedim  is  very  sacrosanct  and  must  be  given  full  effect  in  all  its ramification,  it means that where there is a wrong, there is a remedy.  Now having dismissed  the claim of the appellant on account of process abuse, this goes to imply that they appellants right to seek redress and fair hearing has been prematurely foreclosed. The appellant definitely had bonafide right in seeking to justify their claims by having it decided in the appropriate  forum where the relevant facts would properly be stated and issues joined.

119 KARIBI WHYTE JSC (2004) 18 NSCR

120 (1992) 9nwlr (Pt 264) 256

121 (1977) 3SC21

122 (1966) 1 ALL NLR 170.

This however  suggested that it could not be justifiable  to deny the appellant the opportunity to have their suit tried on pleading.

This situation stands as a limitation to the courts power to critically evaluate circumstances; but where the abuse of process emanates from institution  of a suit without any known legal backing, the court is at liberty then to dismiss the suit immediately it was discovered.

Other instance on court process occurs when proceedings are commenced where there is no iota of law supporting it and where proceedings are premised or founded on frivolities or recklessness.  See

The Central  Bank of Nigeria V Saidu H. Ahmed and others123  the appellant herein was the defendant in the suit

before Federal High Court Lagos wherein the respondent are plaintiffs, after their claims were made, pleadings were ordered, filed and exchanged. The action proceeded to trail at the conclusion of which and after addresses by counsel for the parties, the trial court adjudged and entered judgment for the defendant. Being dissatisfied with the judgment of the trial court the appellant appealled against the decision to the court of Appeal. The appellant subsequently  applied to the Court of Appeal for an order of stay of execution  of the said judgment,  though a similar application  has been struck out by the trial court for lack of diligent prosecution.  The Court of Appeal granted the application  subject of the condition  that the appellant  deposits the judgment  sum with the Deputy Chief Registrar of the court.

The appellant subsequently filed an application for an extension of time within which to comply with the order of the Court of Appeal. Before the application  could be heard, the appellant applied to the Supreme  Court for an extension of time within which to seek leave to appeal, leave to appeal and extension of time to appeal against the ruling of Court of Appeal and an order of interlocutory injunction restraining the respondents, from enforcing the judgment of the trial court. The respondents opposed the application and also filed a preliminary objection that the application be dismissed on the ground that it constitutes an abuse of process of the court in that the appellant had already accepted the decision of the Court of Appeal to which it had filed a motion for extension  of time within which to comply therewith. It is of utmost important at this junction to note that where two processes are used in respect of the same right, namely cross appeal, objection and a respondent’s notice, it is tantamount to an abuse of the process of court. Also an application to the Supreme Court for adjournment by a party to an action to bring an application to the court for leave to raise issues of fact already decided by the lower court is an abuse of process. The instances discussed above are not exhaustive; there are other instances such like in the case of;

JOSIAH v CORNELIUS LTD & SONS V

CHIEF  CORNELIUS OKEKE EZENWA 124  In  this  case  after  the  court  of  trial  had  entered

judgment in this suit; one of the parties spotted an error in the judgment and applied to the court for rectification of the error. He, then at the same time appealed based on the same error OGUNDARE JSC of blessed memory in delivery  the  lead  judgment  of  the  Supreme  Court  stressed  that  by  maintaining  that  against  the  decision simultaneously with his application for rectification he was grossly in abuse of the process of the court.

On the part of the legal practitioners,  any conduct in relation to pending proceeding which run contrary of the legal practitioners duty under the Rules of Professional  Conduct in the legal profession  particularly Rule 24 is abuse of judicial process because of its significance and importance, I choose to reproduce Rule 24 which read thus

“Lawyers are duty bond to uphold the law and no service or advise ought to be rendered  or given by them to clients, corporate  or individual of any description or to any cause whatever involving disloyalty to the law or brining disrespect upon the holder of any judicial office or involving  corruption   of  holders  any  public  office.  Improper   service  or  advise  in  such circumstance as aforesaid are unethical and merits strong condemnation as unprofessional conduct. On the other hand, service or advice rendered  or given which impresses clients with fact that the service or advice not only accords  with the letter of the law but embraces moral principle  cannot  be too highly commended. He must also observed and advise his client to observe  the statute  law, save  that  until a  statute  has  been constructed  and  interpreted  by competent adjudication,  he is free and is entitled to advise as to its validity and as to what he conscientiously believes to be its just meaning and extent. Above all, a lawyer however finds his highest honor in a deserved reputation  for fidelity to private trust and to public duty as an

123 (2001) 11 NWLR (Pt 36a) 373.

124 (1996) 4 SCNJ 124

honest man and as patriotic and loyal citizen”125

A legal practitioner has as its duty not to mislead the court or to commence proceedings where there is no iota of law supporting the process or when the process is premised on or founded in frivolities or recklessness. It is the responsibility of the counsel to protect an abuse of process by the judge because the moment a court ceases to do justice in accordance with the law and procedures laid down for it, its ceases to be a regular court see ANIAGOLU JSC IN EDUN V ODAN COMMITTEE & OTHERS IN re CHIEF YAKUBU DAWODU THE OLOJO OF OJO126

Similarly, the court in course of entering fair hearing must include giving to a party or legal practitioners  of his choice  the  opportunity  to  present  his  case  before  an  impartial  court  in  an  atmosphere  free  from  fear  and intimidation see OKODUWA V THE STATE127.

However,  on the part of the judge, any conduct  in relation to pending proceedings  which runs contrary to the provisions  of  the  Code  of  Conduct  for  Judicial  Officers  especially  on  Rule  1(ii)  and  Rule  2(1)(4)  and  (6) constitute an abuse of the judicial process. I will reproduce the relevant rules for clarity.

Rule 1                    Any Judicial  officer  should  avoid  impropriety  and  the appearance  of impropriety  in all his activities.

(1)                A judicial officer should respect and comply with the laws of the land and should conduct  himself  at  all  times  in  a  manner  that  promotes  public  confidence  in  the integrity and impartiality of the judiciary128

Rule 2                  (1)     A judicial officer should be true and faithful to the constitution and the law uphold the course of justice by abiding with the provisions of the constitution

and the law and should acquire and maintain professional competence129

(4)      A judicial officer should be patient, dignified and courteous to accused persons and litigants, assessors, witnesses, legal practitioners and all others with whom

he has to deal with in his official capacity and should demand similar conduct from legal practitioners, his staff and others under his direction and control130

(6)    A judicial officer should promptly dispose of the business of court. In order to achieve this, the judicial officer is required to devote adequate time to his duties to

be punctual in attending court and expeditions in bringing to a conclusion and determining matters under submission. Unless illness or unable for good reasons, to come to court a judicial officer must appear regularly for work avoid tardiness

and maintain office hours of the court.131

In addition to the code of conduct guide for both legal practitioners and judicial officers, our supreme book the

1999 Constitution  of the Federal Republic  of Nigeria has provided  in Section  6(6)132  (a) that all courts have inherent powers and jurisdiction to ensure that the machinery of justice is duly applied and properly lubricated and not abused.  One most important  fact of such inherent  powers  of the court is to prevent  the abuse  of it process which simply means that the process  of the court must be used bona fide, properly and must not be abused.

The  constitutional  provision  was  specifically  meant  to ensure  that  the  judiciary  is independent  in  cause  of interpreting the constitution  with emphasis on procedure and direction. It is important that any departure from the laid down rules will be attributed  to failure of intellect  or moral courage  and strength  on the part of the operation of our court system the judicial officers and legal practitioner and such will be considered as an aspect of an abuse of the judicial process.

3. Remedies for abuse of Judicial process in Nigeria

Upholding of discipline is fundamental for the proper growth of any society or institution; there is absolute need to follow due process and not to rush to a hasty decision. The constitution  of the Federal Republic of Nigeria

125 Rule 24 Legal Practitioners Act, Rules of Professional Conduct

126 (1980) 8-11 SC 103 @ 137

127 (1988) 2NWLR (Pt 76) 333.

128 Rule(1) code of conduct for Judicial Officers

129 Rule 2(1) code of conduct for judicial officers

130 Rule 2(4) code of conduct for judicial officers

131 Rule 2(6) code of conduct for judicial officers

132 Section 6(6) 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria

1999 which is the supreme law or ground norm should be obeyed to the letter; fair hearing is a sine quo non to national justice, equity and good conscience.

There cannot be better use of inherent powers and sanctions of a court of law than to protect the processes of the court from abuse. However,  in exercise  of its inherent  powers,  the court will always  strike  out or otherwise dispose brevi manu any matter or cause before it which is an abuse of its powers.

3.1 Instances

Where the appellant having filed an appeal used the same to obtain an order of stay of execution of judgment and then went to sleep abandoning the appeal, Osun State Independent National Electoral Commissioner

National Electoral Commissioner Party133

Where the appellant as defendants having lost in the judgment of the trial court promptly appealed against it the following  date by filing of notice  and proceeded  immediately  to file a motion  for stay of execution  of that judgment using the notice of appeal filed which application was promptly heard and granted by the trial court the following  week only for the appellant  to go to sleep without taking necessary  steps to put the appeal on ground for hearing at higher court. An application by the respondent to the court below got the notice struck off for abuse134

Where a party improperly uses the machinery of the judicial process to the intimidation  and annoyance  of his opponent and the efficient and effective administration of judicial per KARIBI WHYTE in OLUITINRIN V AGAKA135

Where the rule of Audi Alterem Partem is violated it is immaterial that the decision reached is correct136

Where the appellant is pursuing the same matter by two processes of the court Agwasin V Ojichie137

138

Where proceedings are commenced and there is no iota of law supporting it CBN V SAIDU H. AHMED and others

The instances of abuses that require remedies cannot be exhausted, however, this submission in looking beyond the existing constitutional  or rather statutory provisions as contained in the Constitution, Legal Practitioner Act and Code of Conduct  for Judicial  Officers.  A stringent  measure  which  will deter other from the practice  of abusing judicial process is hereby recommended.

Firstly, apart from the application of inherent powers of the court to either struck off or dismiss any process that has abused the judicial practice direction  an extra ordinary cost should be awarded  against such litigant who wants  to carry  out an abuse  or who  encourage  the  perversion  of  justice.  Presently,  the cost  to be awarded basically was at the discretion of the judge but a stiffer higher cost of N50,000 for High Courts, N100,000 for Appeal Courts and N200,000 for Supreme Court will deter litigants from engaging in such wholesome act is recommended.

Secondly, on the part of legal practitioners who encourages or advises their clients to embark on acts that will derail the dignity of the judicial process such as Instituting  multiple  applications  on the same subject matter, different application on the same matter at different courts, instituting two processes in respect of the same right, adoption of forum-shopping system, instituting processes without a supporting legal premise all these and others instances  mentioned   earlier  should  be  regarded  as professional   misconduct   because  it  all  tend  towards misleading the court.

A recommendation is hereby submitted that such legal practitioner having committed an act of professional misconduct should be banned and brought before the Legal Practitioner disciplinary committee for proper investigation. If at the end he found wanting, such person will be fine N100,000 or more before he is readmitted to continue in practice.

133 (2013) 9 NWLR (Pt 280) 126

134 Arubo v Alyeleru (1993) 3NWLR (Pt 280) 126

135 (1998) 6 NWLR (Pt 554) 366, Conwalk v Military Administration Plateau State (1986) 6 NWLR (PL555) 653,AG Federation V.A.G Abia State & 35 others (2011) nwlr (Pt 725) 717 718

136 Tukur V Government of Gongola State (1989) SCNJI

137 (2004) 18 NSCR 359

Thirdly,  on the part of judicial  officers, the reform process  going on or rather being   driven by the National Judicial Council speaks volume as any erring judicial officer has automatically incurred a violation of his Oath of office and allegiances. Many of such judicial officers whose action were investigated by the National Judicial Council and found guilty have been punished varying from retirement, suspension and dismissal depending on findings.

However, a call for concern is about the activities of others officers in our judicial system the magistrates. The issues of abuse of judicial processes are abounding within the magistrate, customary and Sharia Court system.

The  National  Judicial  Council  should  extend  their  search  light  on the  activities  of such  categories  of legal officers as a matter of fact most complaint about these categories of officers end ups in the state Chief Justice and President of the customary or Sharia Court of Appeals table.

The National Judicial Council should extend the reform to them. Such action will sanitize that level of judicial disposition and the erring one should suffer the same fate with the higher judicial officers. The need for urgent intervention of the National Judicial Council in this regard need not be over emphasized.

4. Conclusion

The lesson of this presentation  is that whether the legal practitioner  accept it or whether the judicial officers accepts it or not every abuse of due process represents either a moral failure or an intellectual failure of both the legal practitioners and the judicial officers and of course any litigant seeking to pervert justice.

It is of utmost important to note that the legal practitioners and judicial officers who by professional implication are officers in the justice temple and any act or omission which tend to derail the pride of justice disposition should be resisted, if not both of them should be blamed whenever inconsistence  is observed. The litigant who wants to pervert justice will hide under their umbrella before such act or omission will be actualized.

However, the legal practitioner and judicial officers will take the full blame and will be seen as sinners if they ever succumb to that bait. As a matter of fact, it is the duty of a legal practitioner not to mislead the court, not to commence proceeding when there is no iota of law supporting the process or when the process is on frivolity or recklessness. It is also the responsibility of legal practitioners to protest the abuse of due process by the judicial officers.  On the other hand any judicial officer who permits the proceedings  before him to be abused due to moral weakness or professional incompetence has no alibi to plead.

References

1. Black Law  Dictionary,   Sixth  Edition  Black,  Henry  Campbell,   Black  Law  Dictionary  Sixth  Edition, Continental Edition 1891- 1991 P 990 P 10-1
2. State V Draper, 83 Utah 115, 27 P2d 39. Exparter Jones 246 Ala 433, 2050 2d, 859, 862.
3. Back V Wings field Inc C.C.A. Pa 122 F2d, 114, 116, 117
4. Harey V State OXLCr 458 P2d 336, 338, Swenson V Cahoon, 111 Fla 788, 152, 50203, 204
5. Public Drug Co V Breyerke cream Co, 347, Pa 346, 32A 2D 413, 415
6. Jadesimi V Okotie Eboh (1986) 1NWLR (Pt 16) 264
7. R-Benkay Nig Ltd V. Cadbury Nig PLC (2012) 9 NWLR (1306)
8. Amaefule & others V The State (1998) 4SCNJ 69 at 87.
9. Agwusin V Ojichie (1993) 3NWLR (Pt 280) 12.
10. 1 KARIBI WHYTE JSC (2004) 18 NSCR

11 Saraki V Kotoye.(1992) 9NWLR (Pt 264) 256

2. 1 Okorodudu V OKorodudu (1977) 3 SC 21
3. 1 Oyebola V Eso West African Inc.(1966) 1 ALL NLR 170.
4. 1 Central Bank of Nigeria V Saidu H. Ahmed and others.(2001) 11 NWLR (Pt 36a) 373.
5. 1 Josiah v Cornelius Ltd & Sons V Chief Cornelius Okeke Ezenwa (1996) 4 SCNJ 124
6. 1 Rule 24 Legal Practitioners Act, Rules of Professional Conduct
7. 1 Edun V Odan Committee & Others V Chief Yakubu Dawodo (1980) 8-11 SC 103 @ 137
8. 1 Okoduwa V the State (1988) 2NWLR (Pt 76) 333.
9. 1 Rule (1) code of conduct for Judicial Officers

2 Rule 2(1) code of conduct for Judicial Officers

1. 2 Rule 2(4) code of conduct for Judicial Officers
2. 2 Rule 2(6) code of conduct for Judicial Officers
3. 2 Section 6(6) 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria
4. 2 (2013) 9 NWLR (Pt 280) 126
5. 2 Arubo v Alyeleru (1993) 3NWLR (Pt 280) 126
6. 2 (1998) 6 NWLR (Pt 554) 366, Conwalk v Military Administration Plateau State (1986) 6 NWLR (PL555)

653,AG  Federation V.A.G Abia State & 35 others (2011) nwlr (Pt  725) 717 718

7. 2 Tukur V Government of Gongola State (1989) SCNJI
8. 2 (2004) 18 NSCR 359

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