The Supreme Court has imposed a N5 million fine on Ambrose Albert Owuru, a former presidential candidate, for filing a frivolous and vexatious suit against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Owuru, who contested the 2019 presidential election under the Hope Democratic Party (HDP), had filed a fresh suit seeking to remove Tinubu from office. The court dismissed his suit and ordered him to pay the fine to Tinubu.

Owuru, who claimed to be a lawyer, appeared in court on Monday to argue his case but was ordered to remove his wig and gown before being allowed to speak. He attempted to convince the court, but his explanations were dismissed as unconvincing. Justice Uwani Musa Aba-Aji criticized his conduct, calling it unbecoming for a lawyer with over 40 years of experience.

This is not the first time Owuru has been fined by the courts. The Court of Appeal had previously imposed a N40 million fine on him for filing another suit against Tinubu, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and others.

In his latest suit, Owuru sought to remove Tinubu on the grounds that he was unqualified to hold office as president and had usurped the position unlawfully. He also accused Tinubu of being involved in a drug-related forfeiture case in the United States and claimed that Tinubu was under the control of foreign authorities, disqualifying him from being president. Owuru also requested the court to declare him the rightful winner of the 2019 election and order his immediate inauguration as president.