Ebun Francis| The Supreme Court, on Wednesday, fined Chief Afe Babalola (SAN) and Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN) N30 million each for agreeing to file an application for the review of the apex court’s judgment on Bayelsa election which the court described as frivolous and abuse of court process.
An obviously angry justice Amina Augie, who pronounced the fine while dismissing the case filed by the APC and its candidate challenging the apex court’s judgment in the last governorship election in Bayelsa State, regretted that “very senior” lawyers were responsible for filing the applications.
Justice Augie subsequently awarded the costs of N10m to be personally paid by David Lyon’s lawyer, Chief Afe Babalola (SAN), and APC’s lawyer, Olanipekun (SAN).
She further 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 N60 million.
According to her, the applications amounted to an invitation for the apex court to sit in appeal on its own judgment in violation of the Constitution which would amount to violating the finality of its judgment if the applications were granted.
She further avered that granting the applications would open a floodgate for the review of decisions of the Supreme Court.
“There must be an end to litigation,” she said, adding, “the decision of the Supreme Court is final for ages in a matter” and only legislation could change it.
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