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Renowned legal practitioner and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Dr. Monday O. Ubani, has raised alarm over what he describes as a “disturbing and dangerous trend” in Nigeria’s legal and political spheres: the deliberate misinterpretation of Supreme Court judgments by litigants.
In a strongly worded statement titled “The Dangerous Trend of Misinterpreting Supreme Court Judgements in Nigeria: A Call for Urgent Sanity”, Ubani cautioned that this growing practice threatens the judiciary’s authority, public trust, and the stability of Nigeria’s democracy.
Ubani highlighted that parties in high-profile cases are increasingly cherry-picking parts of Supreme Court rulings to suit their agendas, spinning misleading narratives that sow confusion and prolong conflicts. He cited three recent examples to illustrate this trend:
Rivers State Crisis: In the dispute between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and the Rivers State House of Assembly, Ubani noted conflicting interpretations of the Supreme Court’s ruling on the Assembly’s actions post-defection and the Governor’s compliance with agreements, leaving the public uncertain about the legal outcome.
PDP Leadership Tussle: The internal conflict within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) between Mr. Samuel Anyanwu and Mr. Okorie Okoye persists despite a Supreme Court decision intended to resolve it. Ubani lamented that both factions claimed victory, deepening the party’s crisis.
Labour Party Leadership Dispute: Following the Supreme Court’s April 4, 2025 judgment (SC/CV/56/2025) striking out a suit recognizing Barrister Julius Abure as Labour Party chairman, Ubani observed that rival factions continue to assert opposing positions, disregarding the court’s clear stance that it lacked jurisdiction over the party’s leadership.
“The Supreme Court is the final arbiter of justice in Nigeria,” Ubani stated. “Yet, parties manipulate these judgments to suit selfish ends, leading to public confusion and worsening the disputes the court aimed to settle.”
Ubani outlined three major dangers posed by this trend:
Undermining the Supreme Court: If parties treat the apex court’s rulings as optional, its authority weakens, shaking the foundation of Nigeria’s judicial system.
Endless Conflicts: Misinterpretations prevent disputes from ending, defeating the purpose of judicial resolution and fueling perpetual litigation.
Loss of Public Trust: When court decisions fail to bring clarity, people may lose faith in the judiciary, paving the way for lawlessness and disrespect for the rule of law.
To curb this menace, Ubani proposed immediate action:
Clearer Judgments: He urged the Supreme Court to issue unambiguous rulings with specific orders to close loopholes for manipulation.
Ethical Lawyering: Ubani called on lawyers to uphold professional integrity, advising clients truthfully rather than twisting judgments to appease them. “It’s dangerous for lawyers to become merchants of confusion,” he warned.
Enforce Contempt Laws: He advocated for swift contempt proceedings against those who defy or misrepresent court rulings, stressing that accountability is key to preserving judicial dignity.
“The judiciary is the last hope of the common man,” Ubani concluded. “If its decisions lose their sanctity, our democratic governance is at risk. Lawyers, litigants, politicians, and the media must respect the finality of the Supreme Court to ensure peace and order.”
The SAN’s statement comes amid ongoing debates over the Labour Party ruling, where the Supreme Court set aside lower court decisions recognizing Abure as chairman and struck out the suit for lack of jurisdiction.
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