Chief Afe Babalola SAN and Chief Wole Olanipekun SAN, have on Wednesday, been ordered by Nigerian Supreme Court, to personally pay fine of N30 million each for agreeing to file an application for the review of its judgment on Bayelsa election.
Justice Amina Augie announced the said fine while reading the judgment in the APC’s applications for a review of its February 13, 2020 judgment which overturned the All Progressives Congress’ victory in the last governorship election in Bayelsa State.
In tears, the justice regretted that “very senior” lawyers were responsible for filing the applications.
As a result, the apex court awarded the costs of N10m to be personally paid by David Lyon’s counsel, Chief Afe Babalola SAN, and APC’s counsel, Chief Wole Olanipekun SAN.
The court ruled that each of the lawyers must pay the N10m to each of the three respondents – the Peoples Democratic Party, Governor Duoye Diri, and the Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State, Lawrence Ewhruojakpo, bringing the total amount to be paid to N60 million.
Justice Augie said the applications amounted to an invitation for the apex court to sit in appeal on its own judgment in violation of the Constitution.
A seven-man panel of the apex court led by Justice Sylvester Ngwuta described the applications filed by the APC and its governorship candidate as frivolous, vexatious, and constituted a gross abuse of court process.
Justice Augie held that it would amount to violating the finality of its judgment if the applications were granted.
She said, granting the applications would open a floodgate for the review of decisions of the Supreme Court.