PROLIFERATION OF ISSUES IS DEPLORABLE

Undoubtedly, the Appellants have disposed themselves to the unpardonable practice of proliferation of issues. Proliferation of issues is highly deplorable. In drafting grounds of appeal and issues for determination, counsel must at all times avoid proliferation of issues and this is done by distilling a sole issue from one or more grounds of appeal, thereby avoiding multiplicity of issues from the same ground.

– Saulawa, JSC. Oko v. Ebonyi State (2021)

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LEAVE OF COURT MANDATORY WHERE CONDITION PRECEDENT

By virtue of section 233 of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria and section 22 of the Supreme Court Act Cap 15 Laws of Nigeria 2004, the word leave means permission. Therefore an appellant is bound, where necessary to seek the formal permission of the court below before setting an appeal in process. Leave of court where it is required is a condition precedent to the exercise of the right to appeal. This failure to obtain leave where it is required will render any appeal filed incompetent as no jurisdiction can be conferred on the appellate court. Hence an appeal from the Court of Appeal to the Supreme Court on grounds other than of law alone is incompetent and invalid unless leave of either the Court of Appeal or the Supreme Court is first sought and obtained.

– Adekeye JSC. Nwaolisah v. Nwabufoh (2011)

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WHAT WAS NOT AN ISSUE AT TRIAL CANNOT BE AN ISSUE ON APPEAL

The law is trite that a point that is not made an issue in the course of trial cannot be so raised in an appellate court unless with the leave of the trial court or the appellate court. See Oshatoba v. Olujitan 2000 5 NWLR part 655 page 159, Obioha v. Duru 1994 8 NWLR part 365 page 631, and Akpene v. Barclays Bank of Nigeria Ltd 1977 1 SC 47.

— A.M. Mukhtar JSC. Ohochukwu V. AG Rivers State & Ors. (SC.207/2004 • 17 February 2012)

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WHEN FRESH ISSUE WILL NOT BE ENTERTAINED

The general rule, on fresh point or issue in this Court, is that it will not be entertained if this Court had not the benefit of the views of the Justices of the Court below: see FADIORA v. GBADEBO (1998) 3 SC 219; ENANG v. ADU (1981) 11 – 12 SC 25; ADEGOKE MOTORS v. ADESANYA (1989) 3 NWLR (Pt.109) 250, etc.

– Ejembi, JSC. GTB v. Innoson (2017) – SC.694/2014(R)

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MATTERS OF FACT IN APPEAL NEEDS LEAVE

Appeals to this court by leave which otherwise means permission, relate to matters of facts or mixed law and fact for which leave of the court below or this court must be obtained as a matter of condition precedent. – Chukwuma-Eneh JSC. Yaro v. Arewa CL (2007)

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ARGUMENT SHOULD BE BASED ON THE ISSUE NOT GROUND OF APPEAL

But he should know that once the issues for determination have taken full account of the grounds of appeal filed, he ought not to abandon those issues and base his arguments on the grounds of appeal one by one. Quite apart from the intendment of the Rules, that argument in a brief shall be based on the issues, the advantage of this is that whereas a successful argument of a ground of appeal does not necessarily result in the appeal being allowed.

– Nnaemeka-Agu, JSC. Adejumo v. Ayantegbe (1989)

LEAVE IS TO BE SOUGHT FOR SUPREME COURT TO DETERMINE AN ISSUE NOT RAISED AT LOWER COURT.

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PROLIFERATION OF ISSUES IS DEPLORABLE

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LEAVE OF COURT MANDATORY WHERE CONDITION PRECEDENT

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WHAT WAS NOT AN ISSUE AT TRIAL CANNOT BE AN ISSUE ON APPEAL

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WHEN FRESH ISSUE WILL NOT BE ENTERTAINED

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MATTERS OF FACT IN APPEAL NEEDS LEAVE

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ARGUMENT SHOULD BE BASED ON THE ISSUE NOT GROUND OF APPEAL

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