Ben E. Chidoka & Anor V. First City Finance Company Limited (2012)
LAWGLOBAL HUB Lead Judgment Report
S. MUNTAKA-COOMASSIE, J.S.C
The respondent, who was the plaintiff at the trial court claimed jointly and severally against the appellants the sum of N486, 780.00k being the debt owed as at 30th July, 1989 arising from the loan facilities granted the defendants/appellants in accordance with Agreements C.P/214 dated 20th December, 1986 and C.P/214 – A dated 19th December, 1986 entered into by the plaintiff and defendants at defendants’ request.
The facts of this case as agreed by the parties in their respective brief of argument are this. The contract between the parties was contracted in 1987 between the respondent, as lender, and the appellants, as borrowers. The appellants are couple doing business together. The money lent was to attract interest at the rate of 132% per annum. The respondent was not a licensed Money Lender at the time it entered into the transaction nor as at the time it sued to recover what was allegedly owing under the contract. This action was brought under a summary judgment procedure, however the trial court transferred it to the general cause list in order to hear and determine the case on merit. Thereafter the plaintiff/respondent proceeded to prove its case and after the close of its case defendants’ counsel sought for an adjournment for the defence to open, but as the record shows, the counsel abandoned the case without the leave of court. The plaintiff/respondent was duly cross-examined by the defendants’ counsel on 6/12/90 after which the plaintiff’s case was closed. All the consequent adjournment on 12/12/90, and 22/2/1991, were at the instances of the defendants/appellants.
(Underlining Mine)
Thereafter a new counsel was briefed to defend the appellants – Mr. Alao Aka – Bashorun (of blessed memory). The defendants on the 14/4/91 sought an adjournment to study the case; it was thus adjourned at his instance to 30/4/91.
On that day the learned counsel was not in court, rather he has sent a lawyer to the court who said that he knew nothing about the case. It must be noted that on the 4/4/91 Mr. Alao Aka – Bashorun specifically asked for the adjournment in order to enable him file an amended statement of defence, but as at date of the case, nothing has been filed. The trial court while refusing an application for adjournment held thus at page 136 of the record:
“I have myself gone through the court’s case filed and nothing has been filed in connection with an amended statement of defence which Mr. Alao Aka-Bashorun vigorously spoke about on 4th April 1991 when the same case came up. One of the two defendants is present in court. Since the plaintiff has closed its case I would presently call on the second defendants’ counsel to present the defendants’ own case. If the defendant is not ready to present her case then I shall be constrained to conclude that she does not wish to call any evidence……”
At this point the defendant’s counsel, Mr. Ajayi said and I quote,
“I am not in a position to ask the 2nd defendant if she has any defence to offer”
In response, the learned trial court ruled as follows:-
I shall therefore at this stage take it that the 2nd defendant does not wish to call any evidence. It is pertinent to recall here that the plaintiff closed its case on 6th December 1990. I regard the cases on both sides closed and I shall now listen to the final address”.
The trial court proceeded to hear the plaintiffs address and adjourned for judgment. That court delivered its judgment on 12/7/91 in which the plaintiff/respondent’s claims were granted.
Dissatisfied with this judgment the appellants unsuccessfully appealed to the Court of Appeal, Lagos Division, hereinafter called the lower court. On 8/5/2000 the lower court dismissed the appeal and affirmed the judgment of the trial court.
On the issue of the illegality of the agreement between the parties, which the appellants contended was illegal on the ground that the respondent not being a licensed Money Lender could not operate as such under the provisions of the money lenders law of the Lagos state cap. 58, the lower court held thus:-
“The issue of the application of money Lenders Law Cap 58 of Lagos State was neither raised nor contested between the parties. There is nothing on record to suggest that the claims of the respondent in the trial court was ex-facie illegal. There is neither pleading nor evidence on record on extraneous issue of the application of money Lenders Law now sought to be pressed before this court … Even if the issue of illegality was raised suo motu by the trial court, nothing precluded it from looking into relevant statutory provisions and case law that deal with the issue, it would seem to me that by the provisions of Section 2 (2) of the Money Lenders Law Cap 58 the respondent is entitled to enter into the kind of contract it entered with the appellant. Appellant, having duly taken benefit from the transaction leading to the suit herein cannot be heard to say that the transaction is illegal because they are now being asked to fulfil their obligation under the contract”.
Finally, on the issue of fair hearing the lower court held as follows:-
“Where counsel refused to open his defence inspite of several invitation of the court the appellant and the counsel cannot be heard to complain that the appellants’ constitutional right to fair hearing as enshrined in Section 36 (1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 was denied them”.
It was on these grounds that the lower court dismissed the appeal. It was against this decision that the appellants have further appealed to the Supreme Court.
In accordance with the rules of this Court both parties filed and exchanged their respective, briefs of argument. The appellants in their joint brief of argument formulated two (2) issues for determination as follows:
1) “Whether the rule laid down in the Supreme Court’s judgment of Okunbor v. Obiazi delivered on 1/7/1969 in SC 746/66 which makes it mandatory for a trial court to call upon a defendant to take over the conduct of his case when his counsel refuses to proceed, is still good law so that failure of the learned justices of the Court of Appeal to follow same and reverse the judgment of the trial court for its non-observance occasioned a miscarriage of justice to the appellant.
2) Whether the lower court rightly ignored the rule against enforceability of ex-facie illegal contract to uphold the judgment for recovery of money lent at 132% interest per annum by plaintiff/respondent an unlicensed money lender contrary to Section 2 of the Money Lender’s Law and Order 3 rule 8 of the High Court of Lagos State (Civil Procedure) Rules 1972.
The respondent also formulated two (2) issues for determination as follows:
“(1) Considering especially that non of the two counsel engaged by the defendants/appellants at various times was re-adjourned for the hearing of their case after several adjournments for that purpose, were the learned Justices of the Court of Appeal not justified in validating the procedure adopted by the trial court of finally closing the defendants’ case and delivering judgment accordingly after address of the Plaintiff/Respondent’s counsel.
(2) Was the lower court not right in upholding the trial court’s finding that it was not open to the defendant’s/appellants who had benefitted from a contract to turn around to evade their obligation under that contract on the basis of its purported illegality”.
At the hearing before us, the learned Senior Counsel to the appellant adopted its brief of argument and urged this Court to allow the appeal.
On the 1st issue, learned counsel commenced by positing that where a counsel seised of an action which is ripe for hearing refuses to proceed with his client’s case in a situation where the client so represented is himself present in court, should the court forcibly close the case of the client ipso facto or should the court call upon the client himself to personally take over the conduct of his case before concluding it. That defence did not wish to call evidence and foreclosing same.
Counsel contended that the answer could be found in this Court’s decision in Okunbor V. Obiazi delivered on 11/7/1969 in SC/746/66 contained in volume 9 Digest of the Supreme Court cases by Gani Fawehinmi, the decision which he said has been followed in;
(a) Ajani v. Giwa (1986) 3 NWLR (Pt.32) 796 at 809;
(b) Igbinomwanbia v. N.T.A. (1996) 6 NWLR (pt.403) 631 at 637.
(c) Ijeh v. Onwuachi (1994) 10 NWLR (Pt.332) 288 at 294; and
(d) Fetuga V. Western Nigeria Housing (1967) NSCC Vol. 5 page 274 /278. He therefore submitted that the lower court misdirected itself when it failed to follow the above cited decisions. Learned counsel further contended that the decisions in Alhaji Lawal Tanbi Vs. Israel Opawoye (2000) 4 NWLR (Pt.644) P.275; Eco consult Ltd. v. Panche Villa (2000) 3 NWLR (Pt.647) 141; and Ajidanun v. Ajidanun (2004) 4 NWLR (Pt.654) 600 cited by the lower court are not applicable to this case.
On the 2nd issue it was the contention of the learned counsel that the claim was a money lending transaction at an interest rate of 132% per annum and that the lender was not at the material time a licensed Money Lender. It was therefore contended that no doctrine of ex-facie illegality operates so that if an action really rests on a contract which on the face of it ought not to be enforced then the court ought to dismiss the claim irrespective of whether the pleadings of the defendant raise the question of illegality, the case of NORTH WESTERN SALT CO. LTD. V. ELECTRONIC ALKALI CO. LTD. (1914 – 1915) All E.R. (reprint) 752) was cited. Learned counsel therefore contended that the respondent was an illegal and unlicensed money lender within the meaning of Section 1, 2(c), 4 and 72 of the money lenders Law cap 85 Laws of Lagos state.
And as such it cannot maintain an action to recover money lent in breach of the money Lenders Law cites the case of Daroiha V. Hussain (1958) NSCC vol. 155 at 59. Therefore in the case of ex-facie illegality consideration of whether the unenforceability will make one of the parties to the illegal transaction unjustly enriching himself is irrelevant.
Learned counsel also referred to order 2 Rule 8 of the High court of Lagos state (civil proceedings) 1972 and submitted that the respondent was a Money Lender.
Learned counsel finally submitted that the respondent is deemed by law to be a Money Lender and he had the primary burden of pleading and if not admitted proving the facts that showed its exemption from compliance with the lending requirement of the Money Lenders Laws.
Learned counsel for the respondent also adopted his brief before us and urged this court to dismiss the appeal.
On his 1st issue formulated by him it was his contention that the case of Okunbor v. Obiazi (supra) is not only inapplicable in this case but also excerpt from that judgment was distorted, the condition upon which the decision and pronouncements in Okunbor’s case turned were the absence in court or sudden withdrawal of the defendant’s counsel, and none of this happened in this case. Learned counsel went on to distinguish the decisions in Igbinomwamibin v. N.T.A. (supra), Ijeh v. Onwuachi (supra) and Fetuga v. Western Nigeria Housing (supra) cited by the appellant’s counsel and submitted that they are not only irrelevant but also inapplicable to the present case. It was than contended that counsel, unless specifically instructed to the contrary, as regard a particular course of action, has well unfettered powers regarding what to do or not to do, concerning his client’s case in court. These include whether or not to call a witness, Cross-examine a witness or not, reach a compromise on the case and withdrawal of an appeal without reference to his client. The case of Adewunmi V. Plassex Ltd (1986) 3 NWLR (pt. 32) 767 was cited.
On the 2nd issue, learned counsel submitted that the lower court was right in agreeing with the trial court in applying the principle of law that a party who has benefited from a transaction cannot be heard to set up any supposed illegality in the contract to defeat the enforcement of his own obligation under the contract or agreement.
Responding to the appellant’s argument that the transaction is ex-facie illegal, learned counsel referred to his writ of summons, the statement of claim and the statement of defence and contended that these processes reveal that;
- the respondent financed, on the basis of the written agreement the appellant’ export of shrimps at its request at a total sum of N210,000.00;
- the appellants issued to the respondent two post dated cheques for the total payment of N256,000.00 towards the repayment of loan.
- the cheques were dishonoured upon their presentation and upon the commencement of this suit. The appellant denied their liability on the ground that the contract is illegal. It was these issues that the trial court resolved at the trial.
It was further submitted that there is nothing on the face of these issues on the pleadings which gives an indication of ex-facie illegality of the transaction, learned counsel therefore submitted that courts are bound by the issues properly raised before them and no party would be allowed to change his case as it moves up the ladder of the judicial system, the case of Lasisi Ogbe V. Sule (2009) 18 NWLR (pt. 1172) 106 was cited.
The issue of applicability of the Money Lenders Law of Lagos State was not raised nor was it adverted to in the trial court. He therefore urged this court to dismiss the appeal.
My lords I wish to state before I proceed further that I have examined the two issues for determination distilled by each of the parties and I discovered that they are in essence saying the same thing the difference is only in semantic. However for the purpose of the determination I will adopt the issues for determination formulated by the appellant.
On the issue 1 the appellant heavily relied on the unreported case of Okunbor V. Obiazi suit No. SC.746/66, which contained some extracts of the decisions. The learned counsel did not state the page and this has made me to spend some hours going through 846 page – digest. At last I was able to locate some quotation from the case at pages 486 and 511. I must say this act is most unfair to this court. A counsel who wants the court to make use of the authorities cited must provide and cite the cases with clarity, i.e. the name of the parties, the year the case was delivered, if it is unreported a certified true copy, where the case has been reported, the name of the law report, the year, volume and the page. To dump authorities on the court without clear reference, that would not be accepted by this court. I must also say that citing case from the digest which did not state the facts of the case is most unuseful to this court. Cases are decided on the facts presented in court and form the basis of the court’s decision. Where the facts of the case are not known, the court would not be in the right position to know how the decisions were reached. Digest is only a lead that enables one to look for the full decision of the court and not to cite extracts or quotation the basis of which were not known. As I earlier stated in this judgment at page 486 of the digest stated the principle of non – interference with the discretion of the trial Judges if they refuse to grant an adjournment in appropriate case while page 511 stated the position when a court withdraws from further participation in a case and the need to allow parties to a case to conclude their case by hearing the witness or witnesses intended to call. The relevant passage at page 511 is the statement of Ademola CJN (as he then was) to the effect that:-
“There is another point on which we think attention should be called. When a counsel is not in court but his client is present, or when counsel withdraws from a case as Mr. Agbakoba did in this case (although there is nothing in the Judge’s note to say that the application was refused nor granted), it is the duty of the Judge to ask the client to carry on with his case where his counsel left off. The learned Chief Justice in the instant case when Mr. Agbakoba stated he was not taking further part in the proceedings owed a duty to the appellants. They were to be informed of the withdrawal of their counsel and should have been called upon to carry on. Instead learned Chief Justice adjourned the case for judgment”.
The appellants’ counsel also cited the case of Ajani V. Giwa (1986) 3 NWLR (pt.32) 796 at 809, the statement of Oputa JSC (as he then was) dealing with the situation where the defendant was not present in court. The learned jurist stated the position as follows:-
“Calling on a defendant whose counsel was not present in court to give evidence and call his witness is not a question of discretion; it is a duty incumbent on the trial court judge discharged that duty at p. 31 lines 30 – 33 thus:
“The situation is explained by the court to the defendant personally. He is told that he can proceed with his case and call as many witnesses as he likes”.
The question is what is the position of this case On the 30/4/91, a date fixed for defence at the instance of the appellants’, the appellants were represented by one Mr. T. Ajayi of counsel. The court now called the counsel to call the 2nd defendant or any other witness he may wish to call. This is what the learned counsel said:-
“I am not in a position to ask the 2nd defendant if she has any defence to offer”.
To my mind, this is not a case of withdrawal of counsel from a case; it is a case of where a counsel exercised his discretion not to call any witness in his case. A counsel is a master of the case he conducts. He may decide not to call any witness or even cross examine the witness or witnesses of the other party. However, where a counsel negligently conducts his client’s case, he is liable to be sued for professional negligence. See Adewunmi V. Plastex Ltd (1986) 3 NWLR (pt.32) 767. Hence, all the authorities as cited on whether the trial court was right in closing the defendants case when the counsel withdrew are in-applicable to this case. The appellants were represented in court, and the 2nd defendant was also present. They deliberately refused to offer any evidence in their defence and tried to foist a position of helplessness on the court. No court worth its salt would allow any party to a case to abuse its court. A case ought to be heard and determined within a reasonable time. A situation, as in this case, where the appellants’ have severally sought for adjournments to amend their statement of defence, and on the day fixed for defence, no such application was filed and at the same time the counsel deliberately refused to call any evidence even though the 2nd defendant was present in court is an act that should not be permitted. The trial court was clearly right in closing the defence case and proceeding to take the plaintiff address.The lower court was right in upholding the trial court’s decision.
See Ajayi V. Giwa (1986) 3 NWLR (pt.32) 796. In this case, the right to fair hearing of the appellants was not in any way breached. They were given sufficient opportunity to present their defence but they were using delay tactics to delay the cause of justice. Where opportunities, as in this case, have been given to a party to present his case and he fails to make use of such opportunities then he cannot complain a denial of fair hearing. The court cannot force a party to present his case, where such party fails; the court is entitled to make appropriate order in order to ensure that justice is done. In all, I resolve the first issue against the appellants.
The 2nd issue deals with the alleged ex-facie illegality of the transaction by virtue of the provisions of the Money Lenders Law of Lagos State Cap. 85. Section 1, (2) (c) thereof.
As a preliminary point I must state that I have perused the statement of claims, and the statement of defence and I could not see where issue of the illegality was raised. To make the matter worse, the appellants did not utter any evidence in defence or in support of their statement of defence. It is settled law that the court is only bound to consider and determine issues properly placed before it. It cannot embark on its voyage to fish out issue for parties. See Lasisi Ogbe V. Sule Asane (2009) 18 NWLR (pt. 1172) 106.It is my view that this issue having not been raised in the pleadings before the trial court is not worthy of any determination. However, even if it was raised, can the respondent be said to be a Money Lender or licenced Money Lender also make the provisions of the Money Lenders Law applicable to it The appellants cannot admit in his brief of argument that the respondent was not a money lender or a registered Money Lender. In this respect I find the view expressed by Okoro JCA useful, in Alhaji Abdullahi Ibrahim V. Mallam Zangina Abubakar Bakori suit No. CA/K/292/2006, un-reported delivered on 2/7/2009 (Court of Appeal Kaduna Division) and I wish to adopt it in this judgment. At pages 21 – 23, the learned Justice of the Court of Appeal held as follows:-
“A person engaged in other businesses who out of sympathy or pressure as in this case lends money to his friend to resuscitate his ailing business should not by any stretch of imagination be termed Money Lender under the law aforesaid. I seem to agree with the view expressed by Farewell J. In Lintch Filed V. Dreyful (1906) 1 K.B 554 at 559 that-
The Act was intended to apply only to persons who are really carrying on the business not to person who lend money as incidental business or to a few friends”.
He continues and says: – “though not binding authority, I agree that the view so expressed represents the correct position of the law in this matter. I am always not comfortable at the practice where a party after seeking and obtaining money from a friend for resuscitation of his ailing or dwindling business will turn around to rely on technicalities or loopholes in the law as a cover to absolve himself from contractual obligations by putting up a defence under Money Lender Law as done by the appellants in this case. This is pes-simi exempli of business relations and this court would not lend support for such a party to bite the finger that fed him and deprive him of his hard earned money. A man who, with his eyes open and without the other party committing any fraud against him, enters into an agreement with another, should be prepared to abide by the terms of the agreement illegal or otherwise un-enforceable in law. I cannot allow the appellants, after collecting money from the respondent to do business, to now turn around to plead the Money Lenders law in order to escape the refund of the said money as governed by Exhibit ‘A’ between them. It is on this note that I agree with the learned trial Judge that based on the pleadings and the evidence before the court the respondents are not Money Lenders under the Money Lenders Law of Kaduna State (Supra). Accordingly, Exhibit ‘A’ is not governed by the Law”.
My lords, though I am not bound by the above exposition of the law, I agree that the statement represents the law and as such permit me to adopt same as mine. As earlier pointed out, the appellants have stated that the respondent is not money lender, how can the provisions of the Money Lenders law (supra) be applicable to him
Apparently, the appellants were in this state of confusion when they submitted in their brief of argument that the respondent is deemed by law to be a Money Lender and had the primary burden of proving if not admitted, the facts that showed exemption from companies with licensing requirement of the money lender law. The submission is of no moment. The appellants have expressly agreed and admitted that the respondent was not a Money Lender, hence there was nothing left for the respondent to prove. Consequently, I also resolve this particular issue against the appellants and in favour of the respondent.
Finally, I hold that the appeal is devoid of any merit and it is accordingly dismissed. The judgment of the lower court upholding the trial court’s decision is hereby affirmed. One hundred thousand naira (N100, 000.00) costs are awarded to the respondent.
SC.379/2001
