UTIH V. ONOYIVWE

• Pages: 42-105

42

NIGERIAN SUPREME COURT CASES

[1991] 1 N.S.C.C.

UTIH V. ONOYIVWE

1.

CHIEF ETUEDOR UTIH



)

(The Odion (Odion-Orode) of

)

Evwreni)

)

2.

OBRIKOGHO OGBIGHEN



)

3.

FRANCIS ERARUE



)

4.

OKUDANI UNUAFE

)

APPELLANTS

5.

JOHNSON ADUGBO



)

6.

UMUKORO IGBODUDU



)

7.

OKVVAH IGEGERI



)

(for themselves and on behalf of )

the Evwreni Clan Community)

)

V.

1.

JACOB UMURHURHU ONOYIVWE

(Going by the Style "Ovie of

)

Evwreni")

)

2.

JAMES UBOGU OKEIVO



)

3.

SIMON ARHAVWARIEN

)

RESPONDENTS

4.

TIMA OVBORO



)

5, AMBROSE MARIENRE

)

6. JAMES ORUMA

)

(for themselves and on behalf of )

Otioghare family, Emueribu family)

APPEAL NO. SC. 160/1988.

SUPREME COURT OF NIGERIA

BELLO,

C.J.N.

UWAIS,

J.S.C.

KARIBI-WHYTE,

J.S.C.

KAWU,

J.S.C,

WALT,

J.S.C.

OLATAWURA,

J.S.C.

A KPATA

J.S.C.

11th January, 1991.

Appeals - Formulation of issues - Need to avoid prolixity in the formulation of - Issue for

determination - Need to cover related grounds of appeal - Dismissal of appeal without

a hearing on the merits - Power of Court of Appeal in respect thereof - Where derived

- Failure of court to pronounce a judgment on its merits - Whether lacking power to

exercise any jurisdiction on the merits - Order made without jurisdiction - How treated

- Right of action - How exercised.

5

LIT11-1 V. ONOVI

ME

43

Αδµινιστρατιον οφ ϑυστιχε − Ηεαρινγ οφ α µαττερ βψ τηε χουρτ − Τηε νεεδ φορ τηε εξιστενχε οφ

α χαυσε οφ αχτιον − Τηε χουρτ το ηεαρ α µαττερ ονλψ ωηεν τηερε ισ α χαυσε οφ αχτιον, ανδ

τηε πλαιντιφφ ηαϖινγ τηε ριγητ το βρινγ σαµε − Ρελεϖαντ λαω αππλιχαβλε το χαυσε ορ µαττερ

− Ωηατ δετερµινεσ.

Χηιεφταινχψ Ματτερσ −

Ωηατ χονστιτυτε − Σεχτιον 161(3) οφ τηε 1963 Χονστιτυτιον ανδ

σεχτιον 36(α) οφ τηε Χηιεφσ Λαω − Χονστρυχτιονσ οφ − Ωηετηερ ουστ τηε ϕυρισδιχτιον οφ

τηε χουρτ ιν χηιεφταινχψ µαττερσ.

3

Χονστιτυτιοναλ Λαω −

Σεχτιον 258(1) οφ τηε 1979 Χονστιτυτιον − Ηοω χονστρυεδ − Νεεδ φορ

ϕυδγµεντ το βε δελιϖερεδ ωιτηιν τηρεε µοντησ αφτερ τηε χονχλυσιον οφ εϖιδενχε ανδ φιναλ

αδδρεσσεσ − Ωηετηερ παρτιεσ ανδ τηε χουρτ χαν, βψ χονσεντ, εξτενδ τηε χονστιτυτιοναλλψ

πρεσχριβεδ περιοδ.

Χουρτ −

ϑυρισδιχτιον οφ χουρτ το εντερταιν αν αχτιον − Βασισ ανδ δετερµιναντ οφ − Εφφεχτ οφ

5





λαχκ οφ ϕυρισδιχτιον − Ποσιτιον οφ λιτιγαντσ τηερεβψ − Ωηεν α χουρτ µαψ εξερχισε ϕυρισδιχτιον

οϖερ αν αχτιον − Νεεδ φορ χουρτ το λιµιτ ιτσελφ το χλαιµ βεφορε ιτ ασ φραµε − Προπριετψ οφ

− Χουρτσ − ϑυρισδιχτιον οφ − Ωηεν ανδ ηοω δεριϖεδ.

Ιντερπρετατιον ανδ Χονστρυχτιον −

Στατυτε δεπριϖινγ α χιτιζεν οφ ηισ ριγητ ανδ ουστινγ τηε

ϕυρισδιχτιον οφ τηε χουρτ − Ηοω χονστρυεδ − ∀Μεανσ∀ ανδ ∀Ινχλυδεσ∀ ιν δεφινιτιον σεχτιον

οφ α στατυτε − Χοννοτατιον οφ − Σεχτιον 258(1) οφ τηε 1979 Χονστιτυτιον; Σεχτιον 36(α)

οφ τηε Χηιεφσ Λαω, χαπ.37, Λαωσ οφ Βενδελ Στατε, 1979; Σεχτιονσ 161(3) & 165(1) οφ

τηε 1963 Χονστιτυτιον − Χονστρυχτιονσ οφ − Σεχτιον 258(9) οφ 1979 Χονστιτυτιον −

Ωηετηερ ηασ ρετροσπεχτιϖε εφφεχτ.

ϑυδγµεντ ανδ Ορδερ −

∆εχλαρατορψ ϕυδγµεντ − Νατυρε οφ − Χουρτ µακινγ δεχλαρατιονσ −

Ωηετηερ ιµπλιεσ τηε εξιστενχε οφ ϕυρισδιχτιον − Χουρτ φαιλινγ το προνουνχε α ϕυδγµεντ

ον ιτσ µεριτ − Ωηετηερ ιτ τηερεβψ λαχκσ ποωερ το εξερχισε ανψ ϕυρισδιχτιον τηερεον ον τηε

µεριτσ.

0

ϑυρισδιχτιον −

Χηιεφταινχψ µαττερσ − ϑυρισδιχτιον οφ χουρτ ιν ρεσπεχτ τηερεοφ − Ωηατ οβταινσ

βεφορε ανδ αφτερ Οχτοβερ; 1979 − ϑυρισδιχτιον οφ χουρτ το εντερταιν αχτιον − Βασισ οφ −

Ωηατ δετερµινεσ − Εφφεχτ οφ λαχκ οφ ϕυρισδιχτιον − Στατυτε ουστινγ ϕυρισδιχτιον οφ χουρτ −

Ηοω χονστρυεδ − Χαυσε οφ αχτιον − Αππλιχαβλε λαω − Ωηετηερ τηε λαω ιν εξιστενχε ωηεν

τηε χαυσε οφ αχτιον αροσε.

Λεγισλατιον −

Σεχτιον 36(α) οφ τηε Χηιεφσ Λαω, χαπ.37 Λαωσ οφ Βενδελ Στατε, 1976; Σεχτιονσ

161(3) & 165(1) οφ τηε 1963 χονστιτυτιον, ανδ σεχτιον 258(1) οφ τηε 1979 Χονστιτυτιον

− Χονστρυχτιονσ οφ

Πραχτιχε

ανδ Προχεδυρε −

Χαυσε οφ αχτιον − Ρελεϖαντ λαω αππλιχαβλε τηερετο − Ηοω

δετερµινεδ − Παρτψ υργινγ Συπρεµε Χουρτ το οϖερρυλε ιτσ εαρλιερ δεχισιον − Ωηατ τηε παρτψ

µαψ προϖε − ϑυρισδιχτιον − Εσσενχε οφ

Ωορδσ ανδ Πηρασεσ −

∀Χηιεφταινχψ θυεστιον∀ − Μεανινγ οφ.

Ωορδσ ανδ Πηρασεσ −

∀

Μεανσ∀ ανδ ∀ινχλυδεσ∀ ιν δεφινιτιον σεχτιον οφ στατυτε − Χοννοτατιονσ

οφ.

ISSUES:

1. What is the relevant law applicable to a cause of action?

0

2. When may the Supreme Court depart from an earlier decision of it?

FACTS:

The plaintiffs/appellants sued the defendants/respondents at the Bendel High

Court claiming the following reliefs:

5

0

5

44

NIGERIAN SUPREME COURT CASES [1991] 1 N.S.C.C.

a declaration that , according to Evwreni traditional system, customary law

and usage and unwritten constitution, there is no such chieftaincy title as

"

Ovie of Evwreni Clan."

2.

a declaration that, according to Evwreni traditional system, customary law

and usage and unwritten constitution, the known chieftaincy titles in

Evwreni are five only, namely:

(a)

The Odion (Odion-Orode) of Evwreni

(b)

The Otota of Evwreni

(c)

The Akpohor of Evwreni

(d)

The Olotu of Evwreni

(e)

The Ovborevbe of Evwreni.

3.

a declaration that, of the foregoing chieftaincy titles known and recognised

under Evwreni traditional system, customary law and usage and unwritten

constitution, the Odion (Odion-Orode) of Evwreni is the Clan Head and

traditional ruler of Evwreni Clan while the others are his subordinate aides

at the Evwreni town level as well as at the clan level.

4.

a declaration that, according to Evwreni traditional system, customary law

and usage and unwritten constitution, at the Evwreni Clan level, the Odion

of Unenurhie is next in rank to the Odion of Evwreni, followed by the Otota

of Evwreni, Akpohor of Evwreni, Olotu of Evwreni and Ovborevbe of

Evwreni.

5.

a declaration that the title "Ovie of Evwreni" was the unwelcomed creation

of the politics of the late thirties to the mid-sixties which all Evwreni abhor

as contrary to Evwreni traditional system, customary law and usage and

unwritten constitution and as having no functional role in the traditional

institution of government of Evwreni.

6.

a declaration that the Bendel State government has unlawfully been paying

the stipends rightly due the Clan Head of Evwreni to Jacob Umurhurhu

Onoyivbe who is published in Gazette Notice No.BSLN 6 of 1978 at B7 of

the 1978 Supplements to Bendel State Gazette as "Ovie of Evwreni" when

by the Government's own showing the Government was still to decide who

to recognise as the Clan Head of Evwreni.

7.

Any order or orders which, in the judicial consideration of the court, the

justice of this case demands."

Before the hearing of the action, the learned counsel to the 1st defendant raised

a preliminary objection by way of a motion on notice asking the court to strike out

L

or dismiss the plaintiffs' action for want of jurisdiction by virtue of section 36(a) of

the Chiefs Law of Bendel State, 1976. The motion was opposed by the plaintiffs.

In his ruling, the trial Judge dismissed the application and held that section 36(a)

of the Chiefs Law of Bendel State did not preclude the courts from questioning (or

ascertaining) the existence of Chieftaincy titles in a community. Thus, it further held,

L

none of the seven arms of the plaintiffs' claim can be regarded as a "question

relating to the selection, appointment, installation, deposition or abdication of a

Chief" which the courts are precluded by section 36(a) of the Chiefs' Law from

adjudicating upon. Pleadings were then ordered and the case eventually went to

trial but before another Judge.

The plaintiffs led evidence in support of their claims. The plaintiffs and the

defendants are members of Evwreni Community in the Ughelli Local Government

of former Bendel State. The plaintiffs' case is that what they have in their community