PA A.K.Y. Balogun & 3 Ors V Alhaja Shifawu Ode & 2 Ors (2007)
LAWGLOBAL HUB Lead Judgment Report
I. F. OGBUAGU, J.S.C
This is an appeal against the decision of the Court of Appeal, Lagos Division (hereinafter called “the Court below”), delivered on 8th July, 1999 allowing the appeal of the 1st set of respondents and setting aside the ruling of Hunponu-Wusu, J., of the High Court of Lagos State, Lagos Division delivered on 17th January, 1997 holding that it has the jurisdiction to entertain the suit brought by the appellants and therefore, struck out the motion on notice brought by the 1st set of respondents asking it to decline jurisdiction to entertain the said suit.
Dissatisfied with the said decision, the appellants have appealed to this court on seven (7) grounds of appeal. The parties filed and exchanged their respective briefs of argument. In the amended brief of the appellants, they have formulated five (5) issues not seven (7) as stated in the 5th respondent’s brief for determination, namely:
“2.01 Issue No. I
Whether or not the appellants’ suit before the High Court constitutes an abuse of court process.
2.02 Issue No. II
Whether or not the High Court has jurisdiction to entertain the appellants’ claim having regard to the powers of the High Court as enshrined in sections 36 and 272(1) of the 1999 Constitution (i.e. sections 33 and 236(1) of the 1979 Constitution) notwithstanding the fact that a Tribunal had looked into the matter and had made a recommendation thereon.
2.03 Issue No. III
Whether or not there was a decision or judgment by a Tribunal of Enquiry and whether or not such a decision or judgment (if any) could strip the High Court of its jurisdiction under section 272(1) of the 1999 Constitution or limit or restrict the jurisdiction.
2.04 Issue No. IV
Whether or not the Court of Appeal could consider extraneous matters not placed before the High Court and make a decision based on such extraneous matters.
2.05 Issue No. V
Whether or not the decision in Hanson v. Radcliffe U.D.C. (1922) 2 Ch. 490 at 507 is applicable to the facts of this case.”
The 1st to 3rd respondents in their brief, have formulated three (3) issues for determination, namely:
“Issue I
Whether the Court of Appeal’s decision was erroneous taking into consideration the ruling of the High Court in respect of the application before it.
Issue II
Whether appellants before the Tribunal who were not satisfied with the findings or recommendation of the Tribunal could seek redress in court without complying with the pre-condition in the Obas and Chiefs Law of Lagos State.
Issue III
Whether the Court of Appeal was right to dismiss the case instead of striking out.”
The 5th respondent in its brief formulated two (2) issues for determination, namely:
“1. Whether the High Court can exercise its declaratory jurisdiction in respect of a matter already adjudicated upon by the standing Tribunal of Inquiry on Chieftaincy Matters, a statutorily constituted tribunal.
- Whether the invocation of the declaratory jurisdiction of the High Court, instead of supervisory jurisdiction, does not amount to abuse of the process of court.”
The 4th respondent did not file a brief and no reason appears in the file of the court for not doing so.
On 14th November, 2006, when the appeal came up for hearing, I noted that the 4th respondent was absent and was not represented by counsel although there is in the court’s file, evidence of service of the hearing notice for that date on it. However, the learned counsel for the other respondents, each adopted their respective briefs. While the learned counsel for the appellants adopted their brief and urged the court to allow the appeal, the learned counsel for the 1st to 3rd and 5th respondents, urged the court, to dismiss the appeal.
The facts giving rise to the suit leading to this appeal briefly stated are, that the 1st set of respondents- i.e. Salawe Chieftaincy Family, sometime in 1986 (not 1975 as appears in 1st to 3rd respondents’ brief) made a request or application to the Lagos State Government, to make a Chieftaincy Declaration that will regulate succession to the vacant stool of their Salawe of Lagos which was is a recognized chieftaincy title under Part II of the Obas and Chiefs Laws of Lagos State, 1981. The 5th respondent, later forwarded a draft Chieftaincy Declaration to the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs for approval and registration. The draft, was approved and duly registered by the State Government. The said Chieftaincy Declaration, recognized four (4) ruling houses, namely:
(1) Rokosu ruling house;
(2) Okoya Salawe ruling house;
(3) Agbaje Salawe ruling house;
(4) Oke Salawe ruling house.
Following different claims and counter-claims from rival claimants to the said stool, the Government referred the matter to the Judicial Tribunal on Chieftaincy chairmaned by Oshodi, J., for investigation and report. The Tribunal in its report, recommended the revocation of the 1986 Chieftaincy Declaration and concluded by recommending two (2) ruling houses, namely Fatosa and Fayemi with Fatosa being the first on rotational basis. The 5th respondent approved the findings and recommendations of the tribunal. A chieftaincy declaration was then promulgated by the Government.
Aggrieved by the said promulgation, the appellants instituted suit No.LD/3854/95 dated 12th September, 1995 and both in writ of summons and in paragraph 29 of the statement of claim, they claimed the following reliefs:
“(i) A declaration that there are four (4) Ruling Houses in the Salawe chieftaincy family of Lagos namely:
Okoya ruling house, Agbaje ruling house, Rokosu ruling house and Oke ruling house.
(ii) A declaration that all the ruling houses are entitled to present candidates to fill the vacant stool of Salawe Chieftaincy Family in the following order of rotation:
Rokosu ruling house
Okoya ruling house
Agbaje ruling house
Oke ruling house
(iii) A declaration that it is the turn of Rokosu ruling house to present the next candidate that for (sic) the vacant stool of Salawe of Lagos.
(iv) An order of perpetual injunction restraining the defendants whether by themselves, the servants, agents and privies from nominating or selecting any candidate for filing (sic) the vacant stool of the Salawe of Lagos.
(v) An order of perpetual injunction restraining the 4th defendant whether by himself, his servants, agents privies or functionaries from approving the nomination or candidate of any person presented by the 1st – 3rd defendants for purposes of filing (sic) the vacant stool of Salawe of Lagos.”
After the parties had filed and exchanged their pleadings, the 1st to 3rd respondents thereafter filed on 8th March, 1996, a motion on notice praying the trial court to dismiss or strike out the suit on the ground that it does not disclose a reasonable cause of action in that:
“(ii) (sic) The plaintiffs cannot re-open the same decision adjudicated upon in SC/5/1969 and the Judicial Enquiry into Obaship and Recognised Chieftaincy in Lagos State.
(iii) (sic) The claim is an abuse of the court.”
After hearing arguments, the learned trial Judge, in a considered ruling, struck out the application as being misconceived and held he had jurisdiction to entertain the said suit.
Dissatisfied with the said ruling, the appellants appealed to the court below. Briefs were filed and exchanged. The court below – per Aderemi, JCA (as he then was), in its judgment, allowed the appeal holding that the trial court had no jurisdiction to entertain or determine the suit. It set aside the ruling of the trial court and in its place, dismissed the suit also holding that it was a gross abuse of the process of the court. It is against the said decision that the appellants have appealed to this court.
In my respectful view, issue 2.02 of the appellants, or issue I of the 1st to 3rd respondents which is substantially the same as the said issue 2.02 of the appellants, is the crucial issue that will finally determine this appeal. As rightly stated at page 28 of the records by the learned trial Judge and this is also settled, the issue of jurisdiction of a trial court in any particular case is determined or decided by the claim in the writ of summons and the statement of claim – i.e. jurisdiction is determined by the plaintiff’s claim and not by the defendant’s denial. See the cases of Chief Adeyemi & Ors. v. Opeyori (1976) 9-10 SC 31 at 51; and recently, C.G.G. (Nig.) Ltd. v. Chief Lawrence Ogu (2005) 2 SCNJ 227at 237, (2005) 8 NWLR (Pt.927) 366; (2005) 2 SC (Pt.11) 50 citing several other cases therein. The trial court referred to the cases of Prince Mustapha v. Governor of Lagos State & Ors. (1987) 2 NWLR (Pt.58) 539 (it is also reported in (1987) 5 SCNJ 165) and Attorney-General, Anambra State v. The Attorney-General of the Federation (1993) 6 NWLR (Pt.302) 692. See also Attorney-General, Anambra State & 13 Ors. v. Attorney-General of the Federation & 10 Ors. (1994) 3 NWLR (Pt.335) 659 at 674; (1994) 4.SCNJ 30.
In the case of Chief Utih & 6 Ors. v. Onoyivwe & 5 Ors. (1991) 1 SCNJ 25, (1991) 1 NWLR (Pt.166) 166 at pg. 219; Karibi-White, JSC, stated as follows:
“The question whether the court can exercise jurisdiction in an action would depend upon the endorsement of the claim on the writ of summons and the reliefs in the statement of claim. Thus, where the endorsement on the writ of summons and statement of claim discloses a cause of action, (and I add as in the instant case leading to the instant appeal) the court unless precluded by other statutory provisions can exercise jurisdiction.”
It has to be borne in mind and this is also settled, that the provision of section 236(1) of the 1979 Constitution, gave or conferred on the High Court of a State, unlimited jurisdiction to hear and determine any civil proceedings in which the existence or extent of a legal right, power, duty, liability, interest, obligation or claim is in issue. See the cases of Bronik Motors Ltd. v. Wema Bank Ltd. (1983) 6 SC 158, (1983) 1 SCNLR 296; Savanah Bank of Nig. Ltd. v. Pan Atlantic Shipping & Transport Agencies Ltd. & Anor. (1987) 1 NWLR (Pt.49) 212; (it is also reported in (1987) 1 SCNJ 88) and Alhaji Tukur v. Government of Gongola State (1989) 4 NWLR (Pt.117) 517; (it is also reported in (1989) 9 SCNJ 1) cited and relied on by the trial Judge. See also Attorney-General of Bendel State v. Attorney-General of the Federation & Ors. (1982) 3 NCLR 1; and the case of Alhaji Akibu & Ors. v. Alhaja Oduntan & Ors. (2000) 13 NWLR (Pt.685) 446 cited and relied on in the appellant’s brief. (It is also reported in (2000) 7 SCNJ 189).
Therefore, any law, particularly the law of a State, which is in conflict with it, is null and void. See Famubo v. Adekunle (1988) 2 NWLR (Pt.79) 723; Chief Oloba v. Akereja (1988) 3 NWLR (Pt.84) 508; (1988) 7 SCNJ 56; and Moju & Anor. v. Fregene & The Probate Registrar (1990) 7 NWLR (Pt.161) 211 C.A.
When the court below stated at page 77 of the records, inter alia, as follows:
“… The recommendations of the tribunal are intact.
Indeed, they have crystallized into a law – The chieftaincy declaration to regulate succession to Salawe chieftaincy stool. By that chieftaincy declaration only two houses can aspire to the stool. The invitation to the court below, by the reliefs sought, is to make pronouncement contrary to the declaration…”
it was, with respect, a gross misconception of the state of the law. This is because it is settled that any law (including a chieftaincy declaration) of a State which amounts to a removal or purports to remove chieftaincy questions or matters from the jurisdiction of a State High Court is obviously, inconsistent with the provisions of section 236(1) of the 1979 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. See the cases of Kanada v. Governor of Kaduna State (1986) 4 NWLR (Pt.35) 361; and Military Governor of Ondo State v. Adewunmi (1988) 3 NWLR (Pt. 82) 280. Both cases also cited in paragraph 3 of the 5th respondent’s brief. See also Attorney-General of the Federation & 2 Ors. v. Sode & 2 Ors. (1990) 1 NWLR (Pt.128) 500; (1990) 3 SCNJ 1; and Military Governor of Bendel State & 6 Ors. v. Ezaga & 2 Ors. (1990) 6 NWLR (Pt.154) 19.
The learned trial Judge, after reproducing the reliefs sought by the plaintiffs/appellants, at page 30 of the records, stated inter alia, as follows:
“The plaintiffs are not praying this court to select a particular candidate or themselves as the chief, neither were they praying the court to appoint them as a chief nor did they pray that a particular chief be deposed.
Therefore, the plaintiffs have not contravened the principles as stated in the Alese case supra. (i.e. Alase v. Aladetuyi (1995) 6 NWLR (Pt.403) 527 – 544) of presenting a candidate for the vacant stool. All they prayed for were that there are four ruling houses for the vacant stool and that it was the turn of a particular ruling house to present its candidate. The plaintiffs have therefore not contravened the Obas and Chiefs Law of Lagos State, Cap. 138.” (the italics mine)
I agree because His Lordship was/is right. See also the case of Military Governor of Ondo State & Ors. v. Kolawole & Ors. (2000) FWLR (Pt.3) 395 at 407 CA cited and relied on by the appellants in their brief.
As also rightly stated by the learned trial Judge, it is the law that for a statute to oust the jurisdiction of the court, such statute must be clear and unambiguous in its provisions. He referred to and relied on the cases of Barclays Bank v. Central Bank of Nigeria (1976) All NLR 409; Peenok Investments Lid. v. Hotel Presidential Ltd. (1983) 4 NCLR 122; Attorney-General, Lagos State v. Dosunmu (1989) 3 NWLR (Pt. 111) 552 – 580; and Kotoye v. Saraki (Mrs.) & Anor. (1994) 7 NWLR (Pt. 357) 414 – 443 (it is also reported in (1994) 7- 8 SCNJ 524).
He concluded as follows:
“Since there are no clear and unambiguous clause in Cap. 138 of Lagos State ousting the jurisdiction of this Court, I therefore hold that this court has the jurisdiction to entertain this suit. The motion on notice brought by the defendant is therefore misconceived and is accordingly struck out.”
I cannot fault the above, but I will add that even if there is/was an ouster clause in the said Law, Cap. 138, that obviously, should have been inconsistent with section 236(1) of the 1979 Constitution and therefore, on the decided authorities, null and void and of no effect.
In conclusion, this appeal which is meritorious, is allowed by me. I hereby and accordingly, set aside the said decision of the court below and affirm and restore the said judgment of the trial court. I hereby order that the said suit leading to this appeal, be remitted to the Lagos State High Court, Lagos Division for it to be heard and determined on its merits, and expeditious disposal of the case which hearing and determination, has been stalled since 1997 – nine (9) years ago.
Having so held that issue II of the appellants or issue I of the 1st to 3rd respondents is the crucial issue for determination in this appeal and it has succeeded, my answer therefore in respect thereof is definitely that the said High Court has jurisdiction to entertain and determine the said suit. In my humble but respectful view, my consideration of the other issue of the pat1ies will be irrelevant as they become non-issues in all the circumstances. Except to say that one of the reasons or grounds for the dismissal of the suit by the court below is/was because it held that the said suit was a gross abuse of the process of the court and not simply on the issue of jurisdiction.
Costs follow the event. The appellant are awarded N10,000.00 (ten thousand naira) costs payable to them by the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 5th respondents.
SC.107/1999
