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ABUSE OF COURT PROCESS MEANS THE COURT PROCESS IS NOT BEING USED BONA FIDE

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Abuse of Court process means that the process of the Court has not been used bona fide and properly. See Central Bank of Nigeria v. Saidu H. Ahmed and Ors. (2001) 5 SC (Pt. 11) 146; Edjerode v. Ikine (2001) 12 SC (Pt.11) 125. The concept of abuse of Court process is imprecise. It involves circumstances and situations of infinite variety and conditions but it has a common feature in improper use of the judicial process by a party in litigation to interfere with the due administration of justice. See Agwasim v. Ojichie (2004) 10 NWLR (Pt. 882) 613 at 624-625 (SC). In Saraki v. Kotoye (1992) 9 NWLR (Pt. 264) 156 at 188, this Court on abuse of Court process held: “…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 opponent and the efficient and effective administration of justice. This will arise in instituting a multiplicity of action on the same subject matter against the some opponent on the some issue.” See also Okorodudu v. Okoromadu (1977) 3 SC 21.

— N.S. Ngwuta, JSC. R-Benkay Nigeria Limited. V. Cadbury Nigeria Limited (SC.29/2006, 23 Mar 2012)

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abuse of process

ALLEGATION OF ABUSE OF COURT PROCESS MUST BE PROVED

My lords, an allegation of abuse of Court process is a serious allegation and must be established by the person so alleging with sufficient materials before the Court before which the allegation is made. The sufficient material need not be an affidavit if on the face of the processes filed, it is obvious that the party by his own showing is guilty of abusing the process of the Court. However, where such facts are not apparent on the face of the processes filed, then it is incumbent on the party so alleging to place before the Court, mostly by way of affidavit evidence, the material is sufficient enough to warrant the finding of an abuse of Court process, failing which such an objection must fail. For a suit to constitute an abuse of Court process, though the circumstances are varied and infinite, it must be shown in what way or manner it constituted an abuse of Court process by the party so alleging. It is not such an allegation that a party would make and then fold his hands to see how the other party wriggles out of it. The law is simple and very trite he who alleges must prove what be alleges.

— B.A. Georgewill, JCA. General Telephone v. Asset (2017) – CA/L/336/2015

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ABUSE OF COURT PROCESS IS OF INFINITE VARIETY

The concept of abuse of process is imprecise and of infinite variety. However, its most common feature is in instituting multiplicity of actions on the same subject matter against the same opponent on the same issues. The abuse lies in the multiplicity and manner of exercise of the right, rather than the exercise of the right per se. See OKORODUDU vs. OKOROMADU (1977) 3 SC 21 and SARAKI vs. KOTOYE (1992) 9 NWLR (PT 264) 156 at 188.

— U.A. Ogakwu, JCA. General Telephone v. Asset (2017) – CA/L/336/2015

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WHAT CONSTITUTES ABUSE OF COURT PROCESS

Saraki vs Kotoye (1992) 11-12 SCNJ, on what constitutes abuse of Court process, as follows: “The abuse consists in the intention, purpose and aim of the person exercising the right of issue (of the process) to harass, irritate and annoy the adversary, and interfere with the administration of Justice, such as instituting actions between the same parties, simultaneously, in different Courts even though on different grounds … Abuse of process of the Court is a term generally applied to a process which is wanting in bonafide and is frivolous, vexatious or oppressive. It can also mean abuse of legal procedures or improper use of judicial process.”

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WHAT IS AN ABUSE OF PROCESS

It is recognised that the abuse of the process may lie in both a proper or improper use of the judicial process in litigation. But 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 opponent, and the efficient and effective administration of justice. This will arise in instituting a multiplicity of actions on the same subject matter against the same opponent on the same issues. See Okorodudu v. Okoromadu (1977) 3 S.C. 21, Oyegbola v. Esso West African Inc. (1966) 1 All NLR 170. Thus the multiplicity of actions on the same matter between the same parties even where there exists 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 the exercise of the right, per se. The abuse consists in the intention purpose, and aim of the person exercising the right to harass, irritate and annoy the adversary, and interfere with the administration of justice; such as instituting different actions between the same parties simultaneously in different courts, even though on different grounds. See Harriman v. Harriman (1989) 5 NWLR (Pt. l 19) 6.

— A.G. Karibe-Whyte, JSC. Saraki v. Kotoye (1992) – S.C. 250/1991

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WHAT QUALIFIES AS ABUSE OF COURT PROCESS

It is trite law that, abuse of Court or judicial process simply means, the use of a Court process mala fide or in bad faith to the annoyance of the opponent. One variety of it is the institution of multiferous actions between the same parties with regard to the same subject matter and same issue, in the same or another Court. See Abdu Yunusa Indabawa v. Garba Magashi & Anor (2016) LPELR 41626 (CA) and Umeh v. Inu (2008) 8 NWLR (pt. 225) at 245. A quick look at the Originating Summons in Suit No: FHC/ABJ/CS/1275/2022 will show that, same was instituted in the Federal High Court, Abuja on the 27th day of July, 2022. Being a pre election matter, it ought to have been determined within 180 days as required by Section 285(10) of the 1999 Constitution. It therefore means that it lapsed by January, 2023 about a month before the Election in question was conducted. This petition having been instituted on the 20/3/2023 when Suit No: FHC/ABJ/CS/1215/2022 was no more alive, does not qualify as an abuse of Court process. This ground for this objection is also discountenanced.

— H.S. Tsammani, JCA. APM v INEC & Ors. (2023) – CA/PEPC/04/2023

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THE CONCEPT OF ABUSE OF JUDICIAL PROCESS IS IMPRECISE

The concept of abuse of Judicial Process has been held to be imprecise. It involves circumstances and situations of infinite varieties and conditions. It’s one 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 recognised that the abuse of the process may lie in both a proper or improper use of the judicial process in litigation. But 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 opponent, and the efficient and effectual administration of Justice. This will arise in instituting a multiplicity of actions on the same subject matter against the same opponent on the same issues. Thus, the multiplicity of actions on the same parties, even where there exists 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 the exercise of the right per se. See the case of:- -Saraki v. Kotoye (1992) 9 NWLR part 264 page 156.

— J.O. Bada, JCA. Conoil v Vitol (2011) – CA/A/213/2010

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