SUPREME COURT IS MORE CONCERNED ABOUT THE DECISION, THAN REASON OF COURT OF APPEAL

Again for emphasis is that an appellate Court such as this Apex one, will not reverse the decision of the Court below simply because the conclusion and decision were reached from a wrong reason. This is so because once the decision is correct the wrong channel or route through which that decision was made would not scuttle the said conclusion. See The State v John Ogbubunjo (2001) 1 SCNJ 86 at 106 per Onu JSC. — M.U. Peter-Odili, JSC. Kwara Judicial Commission v Tolani (2019) – SC.63/2010

Was this dictum helpful?

UNLESS DECISION IS PERVERSE, FINDING OF TRIAL COURT IS UPHELD

In Ebba vs. Ogodo (1984) 4 SC 372. The apex court had this to say:- “Unless the Court of Appeal finds that the decision is perverse, the Court of Appeal, whose opportunity is confined to printed record, is obliged to, and must accord to the finding of fact, by the trial court, the greatest weight and due respect.”

Was this dictum helpful?

CORRECTNESS OF DECISION IS THE FOCUS, NOT THE REASONS

Even though the learned trial Judge seemed to have rejected the respondent’s defence of acquiescence, I cannot ignore it. The lower court and this court need not agree on the reasons for arriving at the same conclusion. The focus of an appellate court is the correctness of the decision of the lower court and not the reasons given for it.

– Ogunwumiju JCA. Awure v. Iledu (2007)

Was this dictum helpful?

WHERE NO APPEAL ON A DECISION THE DECISION REMAINS BINDING

Where a party, be it an Appellant or Respondent does not appeal against a finding or an order of Court, by way of a ground of appeal, a cross-appeal or a Respondent’s notice, that order or finding is binding and acceptable to it. The Respondent herein has not appealed against the order made to introduce and argue the two grounds of appeal. Therefore, the order is binding on it.

– Yahaya, JCA. Petroleum Resources v. SPDC (2021)

Was this dictum helpful?

COURT HAS JURISDICTION TO SET ASIDE ITS OWN DECISION MADE IN MISTAKE OR MISREPRESENTATION

The court in its inherent jurisdiction has definite jurisdiction or power to set aside its own order or decision made without jurisdiction if such order or decision is in fact a nullity and an appeal in such circumstance cannot be said to be necessary. It can thus be said that outside the appellate procedure, a judgment or order can be set aside if it is a nullity or where a court was misled into giving the judgment by some mistake, believing that the parties consented to its being given, whereas, in fact, they did not. See Craig v. Kanseen (1943) K.B. 256 or (1943) 1 All ER 108 at 113; Okoli Ojiako and others v. Onwuma Ogueze and Ors. (1962) 1 All NLR 58; Ekerete v. Eke 6 NLR 118.

— Iguh JSC. Vulcan Gases Limited V. Gesellschaft Fur Industries Gasverwertung A.G.(G.I.V.) ( SC.67/1995, 4th May 2001)

Was this dictum helpful?

CONFLICTING DECISIONS OF TWO COORDINATE COURTS ARE PERSUASIVE

Since the conflicting decisions of the two courts of co-ordinate jurisdiction are persuasive only and not binding, the High Courts of the Northern States are at liberty to follow either until the matter is settled by the Court of Appeal or this Court.

– M. Bello, JSC. AG Kaduna State v. Hassan (1985) – SC.149/1984

A COURT HAS INHERENT POWERS TO SET ASIDE ITS OWN ORDER MADE WITHOUT

Reach more audience. Place advert here.

Was this dictum helpful?

SUPREME COURT IS MORE CONCERNED ABOUT THE DECISION, THAN REASON OF COURT OF APPEAL

Was this dictum helpful?

UNLESS DECISION IS PERVERSE, FINDING OF TRIAL COURT IS UPHELD

Was this dictum helpful?

CORRECTNESS OF DECISION IS THE FOCUS, NOT THE REASONS

Was this dictum helpful?

WHERE NO APPEAL ON A DECISION THE DECISION REMAINS BINDING

Was this dictum helpful?

COURT HAS JURISDICTION TO SET ASIDE ITS OWN DECISION MADE IN MISTAKE OR MISREPRESENTATION

Was this dictum helpful?

CONFLICTING DECISIONS OF TWO COORDINATE COURTS ARE PERSUASIVE

Was this dictum helpful?