Mr. Michael A. Omo Vs Judicial Service Committee Of Delta State & Ors-2000

LAWGLOBAL HUB Lead Judgment Report

KATSINA-ALU, JSC. 

This is an appeal from a decision of the Court of Appeal Benin Division which overturned the decision of the trial High Court, Benin-City which had earlier held first that the removal of the Plaintiff as a Chief Magistrate was not covered by decree 17 of 1984 which ousted the jurisdiction of the Court and secondly that the removal was unlawful.

The Plaintiff Micheal A. Omo was a Chief Magistrate in the then Bendel State judiciary. By a letter dated 21 march 1985 Exhibit ‘C’ written by the 1st Defendant – Judicial Service Committee. It was stated that the Military Governor had approved the removal of the Plaintiff with immediate effect. He made fruitless efforts to get the decision to retire him rescinded and be reinstated. Subsequently he brought an action against the Judicial Service Committee and the Attorney-General of Bendel State claiming the following reliefs:

(a) A declaration that the plaintiff’s (sic) purported retirement as per a letter dated 21st March, 1985 is wrongful, unconstitutional, null and void and of no effect.

(b) A declaration that the Plaintiff is still in the employment of Bendel State Judicial Service.

(c) An order that the Plaintiff be reinstated to his position as Chief Magistrate Grade 1.

(d) A declaration that the Plaintiff is entitled to his salaries from 21st March, 1985 till date of judgment.

(e) An injunction restraining the Defendants and/or any agent of the Defendants from giving effect to the contents of the said letter pending the determination of this suit. Thereafter, the Plaintiff sought and obtained an order of court to join the Military Governor of Bendel State as third Defendant in the suit. In the affidavit in support of the application, he deposed, inter alia, as follows:

“4. That I know from my personal knowledge and correspondence with the Military Governor of Bendel State – the Party sought to be joined as the 3rd Defendant that the Military Governor was personally and directly responsible for my purported retirement and or removal from office as Chief Magistrate Grade 1.

9. That to the best of my knowledge and belief the Military Governor – the Party sought to be added as 3rd Defendant in this suit was personally and directly responsible for giving rise to the cause of action necessitating the insuance of this Writ of Summons.”

When the Plaintiff filed and served his Statement of Claim, the defendants moved the court for an order dismissing the claim on the ground that the action was not maintainable by virtue of the Public Officers (Special Provisions) Decree, 1984. In the supporting affidavit to this application one Patricia Ifeoma Okoye, a State Counsel in the Ministry of Justice, Bendel State deposed, inter alia, as follows:-

“4. That the Military Governor of Bendel State approved the immediate retirement of Plaintiff/Respondent in the exercise of his power as the Military Governor.”

In a counter-affidavit the Plaintiff deposed in para. 2,3 and 6 as follows:-

2. That para. 4 and 8 of the affidavit in support of Defendants/Applicants motion are false.

‘3. That in further reply to para. 4 of the Applicants affidavit that the retirement of the Plaintiff/Respondent by the Military Governor of Bendel State was a wrongful exercise of his power as Bendel State Military Governor.

6. That the Respondent herein did not apply for retirement nor was his retirement recommended by anybody before the Military Governor went ahead to retire him.” After learned counsel for the parties had addressed the court on the application to dismiss, the learned trial judge refused the application. He held that: “…….it has not been established to my satisfaction that the retirement of the respondent, was made pursuant to Decree No.17 of 1984.” The Defendants thereafter filed their Statement of Defence and the case proceeded to trial. The Plaintiff called one witness in support of his claim while the Defendants called four (4) witnesses amongst whom was the Secretary to the Military Government and Head of Service. In a reserved judgment the learned trial judge found in favour of the Plaintiff.

The Defendants’ appeal to the Court of Appeal Benin Division was allowed on the ground that the jurisdiction of the court had been ousted by Decree No.17 of 1984. The Plaintiff in this appeal has raised 5 issues for determination. They are:-

“(1) Whether the Court of Appeal acted properly in expunging part of the Appellants argument based on the issue as formulated, when the Court has adopted the said issue, merely on the ground that the issue was wider than the ground of appeal and without inviting arguments from Counsel before doing so?

(2) Assuming that the Court of Appeal was wrong in so expunging part of the Appellants argument, could the Appellant be said to have had a fair-hearing?

(3) Whether the Court of Appeal was right in holding that the evidence of DW4 was not a hearsay when that evidence was tendered not merely to prove that DW4 received an instruction from the Military Governor but also to prove the truth of that instruction even though the maker of the Statement, the Military Governor was not called as a witness and when no foundation has been laid for not calling him as a witness?

(4) Whether the word ‘approved’ has the same meaning as the word ‘authorise’?

(5) Whether it was proper for the Court of Appeal to have based its decision partly upon or to have commented on the conduct of third parties when the said conduct has not been made a ground of appeal.” The Defendants on the other hand, formulated six issue which read thus:

1. Whether the Court of Appeal rightly expunged the argument proffered in the Respondent’s brief (now Appellant) in respect of the validity of exhibit ‘F’ when there was no ground of Appeal complaining against that part of the judgment of the learned trial judge relating to Exhibit ‘F’.
2. Whether the Appellant has a fair hearing or was given an opportunity of being heard before the Court of Appeal decided to expunge that part of the Respondent’s Brief (now Appellant) as it related to Exhibit ‘F’.
3. Whether the Court of Appeal was right when it held that the evidence of DW4 is not hearsay.
4. What interpretation should be given to the word “approved” within the context it was used in Exhibit ‘C’ vis-à-vis the use of the word “authorised” in Decree No.17 of 1984.
5. Whether it can be said, taking into consideration the totality of the evidence before it, that the Court of Appeal partly based its judgment on the comments on third party especially as that said conduct of the third parties has not been made a ground of appeal.
6. Whether the Appellant’s retirement was justified in law and in fact.” The issues raised by the parties are identical. I shall however adopt the issues formulated by the Plaintiff in the determination of this appeal. Issues 1 And 2 Learned counsel for the Plaintiff argued issues 1 and 2 together in his brief of argument. Learned Counsel pointed out that the Court of Appeal in the course of its judgment held that so much of the arguments in the Plaintiff’s brief that related to Exhibit ‘F’ should be expunged and in fact expunged that portion of the argument even though the arguments arose from the issues for determination as formulated by both sides. In Ground 1 of the Grounds of Appeal in the Court of Appeal, the Defendants who were Appellants in that court complained that the decision of the learned trial judge that Decree No.17 of 1984 did not avail the Defendants and that therefore the court had jurisdiction was wrong. In the particulars of error, the Defendants like the Plaintiff did not restrict themselves to the complaint against the decision of the trial court that Decree No.17 of 1984 did not avail the Defendants. Learned Counsel for the Plaintiff pointed out that the Defendants formulated the issues on the jurisdiction at large thus: 1. Whether or not on the evidence before the court the Plaintiff was removed by the Military Governor of Bendel State in the exercise of powers conferred on him by the Public Officers (Special Provision) Decree No.17 of 1984. 2. If the answer to 1 is in the affirmative, whether the learned trial judge was right in entertaining the action.” The Plaintiff, it was said, also formulated the issue for determination in substantially similar terms. It states:

“Was the learned trial judge wrong to exercise jurisdiction in determining the Respondents’ claim in view of the plea of ouster of the court’s jurisdiction by virtue of the provisions of Decree No. 17 of 1984.” It was therefore submitted for the plaintiff that the Court of Appeal was in error in expunging so much of the Plaintiff’s brief as related to Exhibit ‘F’. This is so because the issues as formulated by both parties dealt without any qualification with the issue whether the learned trial judge was right in holding that it has jurisdiction to entertain the Plaintiff’s claim. The issue as formulated, it was pointed out, was not limited to a particular ground of appeal. Therefore, it was argued, it was proper for the Plaintiff to rely upon and canvass argument on the basis of Exhibit ‘C’ and ‘F’. This would be so, even if the particulars to Ground 1 of the Grounds of Appeal had been restricted to Exhibit ‘C’. This is because arguments in a brief must be on the basis of the issues formulated and not on the ground of appeal. It was further submitted that once an issue for determination has been formulated, it supercedes the ground of Appeal. For this submission learned counsel relied on the case of Momodu v. Momoh (1991) 1 NWLR (Pt. 213). Finally, on this issue, it was submitted that by expunging a material aspect of the Plaintiff’s brief without a hearing, particularly when the Court has adopted the issue as its own amounts to a denial of fair hearing. Reliance was placed on the cases of Ukaegbu v. Ugoji (1991) 6 NWLR (Pt. 196) 127; and Ariori v. Elemo (1983) NLR 1. For the Defendants it was submitted that the Court of Appeal was right when it expunged that part of the Plaintiff’s brief of argument relating to Exhibit ‘F’. It was pointed out that there was no appeal against the ruling of the trial court invalidating Exhibit ‘F’. Since there was no ground of appeal relating to exhibit ‘F’ it followed that no issue for determination could arise in relation thereto. It was in addition argued that the Plaintiff could not make an issue out of Exhibit ‘F’ without filing a cross-appeal or at least a Respondent’s Notice. It was the contention of the Defendants that the grounds of appeal narrowed down the issue of jurisdiction to exhibit ‘C’ and the evidence of DW4 and definitely not the conclusion reached by the learned trial judge on the validity of Exhibit ‘F’. It was said that a careful look at the grounds of appeal would reveal that no mention was made of exhibit ‘F; and as such in canvassing argument on the issue of jurisdiction, the Plaintiff could not under any guise refer to Exhibit ‘F’.

It was also the submission of the Defendants that the Plaintiff had a fair hearing before the Court of Appeal decided to expunge the said part of the Plaintiff’s brief of argument which dealt with Exhibit ‘F’. It was pointed out that the Defendants as Appellants in the Court filed an Appellant’s Reply brief to the Plaintiff/Respondent’s brief. The plaintiff however chose to be silent on the point. What is more at the hearing of the appeal on 21 June 1990, Learned Counsel for the Defendants proffered oral argument on this point. Again learned counsel for the plaintiff proffered no oral argument in response. He cannot now complain. This case raises a number of points and I shall first consider the issue of exhibit ‘F’. It was held by the learned trial judge that Exhibit ‘F’ was invalid. He said: “I also agree with the contention of learned counsel for the Plaintiff that in so far as exhibit ‘F’ is retrospective in effect, it is inconsistent with the enabling law and therefore void. Exhibit ‘F’ suffers from the further defect, that it is predicated on Exhibit ‘C’ which as I hold, is a nullity, the 3rd defendant having attempted to usurp the functions of the Code of Conduct Tribunal it follows that exhibit ‘F’ cannot and having been made, as counsel for Plaintiff puts it, for an inadmissible purpose. It was also argued that the court cannot pronounce on the validity of exhibit ‘F’ because no relief in respect of it has been claimed. The short answer to this argument is that it overlooks the import of para. 9 of the amended Reply to the amended Statement of defence joining issue, on the validity of the legal notice exhibit ‘F’. The argument in my view is not tenable. My clear conclusion is that all the legal defences raised in Defendants’ pleadings and given in evidence and argued on their behalf, have failed.”

I have already indicated that the learned trial judge found for the Plaintiff. The Defendants appealed to the Court of Appeal. It should be noted that they did not appeal against the decision of the learned trial judge relating to Exhibit ‘F’. In other words, there was no ground of appeal against the decision of the learned judge invalidating Exhibit F.In such a situation, no issue for determination could be formulated regarding Exhibit ‘F’. Issues or questions for determination in an appeal are framed from the grounds of appeal before the court. Consequently an issue, argument or other part of a brief which has no ground or grounds of appeal to support it or which is based on a ground of appeal for which no leave has been sought or obtained is not only incompetent but completely valueless – See Idika v. Erisi (No.2) (1988) 2 NWLR (Pt. 78) 563; Osinupebi v. Saibu (1982) 7 SC 104. Any such issue taken up in the brief ought to be and must be ignored by the Appellate court. See Ijayi v. Eyigebe (1987) 3 NWLR (Pt. 61) 523. The issues for determination in an appeal accentuate the issues in the grounds of appeal relevant to the determination of the appeal in the light of the grounds of errors alleged. It is for this reason that the issues for determination cannot and should not be at large but must fall within the purview of the grounds of appeal filed – See Olorosago v. Adebanjo (1988) 4 NWLR (Pt. 88) 275 at 283. As I have stated earlier on in this judgment there was no appeal against that part of the trial court’s decision invalidating Exhibit ‘F’. So that the argument in the brief touching on Exhibit ‘F’ is incompetent and completely valueless and must therefore be discountenanced. The Court of Appeal was therefore right when it expunged that part of the Defendants’ brief relating to Exhibit ‘F’. I would like to add that the issue under which the Plaintiff proffered arguments touching on Exhibit ‘F’ was not based on any particular ground of appeal. At p. 7 of the Appellant’s brief it is stated thus: “Thus the issue as formulated was not limited to a particular ground. Therefore it was proper for the Appellant to rely upon and canvass argument on the basis of Exhibit ‘C’ and ‘F’. I now turn to the question of fair hearing. It has been submitted for the Plaintiff that by expunging a material aspect of the Plaintiff’s brief without a hearing amounts to a denial of fair hearing. This is because they raised the issue that the argument on Exhibit ‘F’ be expunged in the Appellants’ Reply Brief. This was also raised in the oral argument of the Defendants’ counsel at the hearing of the appeal. The Plaintiff, it was said, chose to be silent on the point.

The contention that the Plaintiff was denied a fair hearing before arguments on Exhibit ‘F’ were expunged was misconceived. This is because it is on record that the Defendants as Appellants’ in the Court of Appeal filed an Appellants’ Reply Brief. It was filed on 17 May 1990. At p. 3 of the Reply Brief Defendants counsel submitted as follows: “It is humbly submitted that para. C at pages 9 – 11 of the Respondents brief be expunged being incompetent. The validity of exhibit F does not form a ground of the appellants appeal. There is no cross-appeal or Respondent’s Notice, consequently, no issue can be made of the said exhibit F. The Supreme Court has held in a number of cases that any issue, argument or other part of a brief which has no ground or grounds of appeal to support it is not only incompetent but completely valueless in the appeal. See (1) Idiaka v. Erisi (1988) 2 NWLR Pt. 78 563 at 579 – 580 (2) Oniah v. Onyia (1989) 1 NWLR Pt. 99 (3) Ugo v. Obiekwe (1989) 1 NWLR Pt. 99 (4) Atanda v. Ajani (1989) 3 NWLR Pt. 11 511 at 543-544 (5) Osinnupebi v. Saibu (1982) 7 SC 104 at 110-111 (6) A.G. Anambra State v. Onuselogu Enterprises Ltd. (1987) 4 NWLR Pt. 66 547.” Also in his oral submission, learned counsel for the Defendants submitted thus: “Submits that paragraph 6 in pages 9-11 of Respondents’ brief dealing with the invalidity of Exhibit ‘F’ be expunged.” At that stage learned counsel for the Plaintiff had an opportunity to proffer oral argument in response to this issue of expunging his argument on exhibit ‘F’. Suprisingly he chose to be silent on the issue only to turn around now to complain that he was not given a fair hearing. This complaint has no merit whatsoever.

Issue 4: On the question whether the Plaintiff was properly removed within Decree No.17 of 1984 as to oust the jurisdiction of the court, it was submitted, for the Plaintiff, that the ouster would apply only if the removal was done by the appropriate authority. In this case, it was said that the appropriate authority would mean the Military Governor of the State or any person authorised by him. The evidence of the Plaintiff was that the Military Governor merely “approved” his removal by the Bendel State Judicial Service Committee. It has been argued that the word “authorise” assumes the giving of permission prior to or ante the doing of the act. Whereas an “approval” could imply the sanctioning subsequently of an action taken. It was submitted that a legislation which seeks to remove or take away or abridge in any way the right of subject, including the access to the law court must be strictly construed.For the Defendants, it was submitted that the word “approved” as used in Exhibit ‘C’ means “decided” or “resolved”. The word “authorised” in the context in which it was used in Decree No.17 of 1984 applies only when the 3rd Defendant delegated his power to his subordinates. It was contended that there was overwhelming evidence in this case to show that the 3rd Defendant did not authorise any person but rather directed the DW 4 and 1st Defendant to inform the Plaintiff of his decision to remove him from office by virtue of his powers under Decree No.17 of 1984. Counsel referred to exhibits H, H2, H4, K, K1, K2, L, C and the evidence of DW4. Counsel also referred to the affidavit of the Plaintiff dated 20/10/87 wherein he stated in para.4 that it was the Military Governor who was personally and directly responsible for his removal. From the facts and circumstances of this case, it is crystal clear that the Plaintiff knew that it was the Military Governor that removed him from office. Let me explain. Before pleadings were ordered the Plaintiff had sought and obtained an order of court to join the Military Governor of Bendel State as the 3rd Defendant in the Suit. In the affidavit he swore in support of the application he deposed, inter alia, as follows:-

“4. That I know from my personal knowledge and correspondence with the Military Governor of Bendel State – the party sought to be joined as 3rd Defendant that the Military Governor was pesonally and directly responsible for my purported retirement and/or removal from office as Chief Magistrate Grade 1.

9. That to the best of my knowledge and belief the Military Governor – the party sought to be added as 3rd Defendant in this suit was personally and directly responsible for giving rise to the cause of action necessitating the issuance of this Writ of Summons” This was before pleadings were filed. On the filing of the Statement of Claim the Defendants brought an application for an order dismissing the Statement of Claim and Writ on the grounds that the action was not maintainable by virtue of The Public Officers (Special provisions) Decree, 1984. Paragraph 4 of the supporting affidavit to this application read thus:

“4. That the Military Governor of Bendel State approved the immediate retirement of the Plaintiff/Respondent in the exercise of his power as the Military Governor.” The Plaintiff swore to a counter affidavit on 12/1/88. He deposed in paragraph 2, 3 and 6 as follows:-

“2. That paragraphs 4 and 8 of the affidavit in support of the defendants/applicants motion are false.

3. That in further reply to paragraph 4 of the Applicant’s affidavit that the retirement of the Plaintiff/Respondent by the Military Governor of Bendel State was a wrongful exercise of his power as Bendel State Military Governor. 6. That the Respondent herein did not apply for retirement nor was his retirement recommended by anybody before the Military Governor went ahead to retire him.” The Plaintiff was a chief magistrate. He understood the legal implications of his admission in the course of the proceedings in this matter that the Military Governor was personally and directly responsible for his removal. The only other body that would have removed him was the State Judicial Service Committee. But the Plaintiff himself absolved them from having anything to do with his removal. In his evidence before the trial court, he said:

“To the best of my knowledge the 1st Defendant did not recommend my retirement.” The evidence of the Plaintiff coupled with the testimony of DW4 points irresistibly to only one fact. That it was the Military Governor that retired the Plaintiff. DW4 Chief Patrick Isioma Goodluck Onyeobi was at the material time the Secretary to the Military Government and Head of Service Bendel State. His evidence runs thus: “Some time in December, 1984, there was a report to the Military Governor, Brigadier J.T. Useni by the State Director of Security alleging covert activities by the Plaintiff. I recognised and identify Exhibit H as the report from Military Governor in a minute on the report, Exhibit H directed me to ask the Chief Judge to see him on the matter. I took action accordingly. I forwarded Exhibit ‘H’ to the Chief Judge and drew his attention to the minute of the Military Governor. Later, the Chief Judge forwarded Plaintiff’s reaction to the N.S.O. report together with the Chief Judge’s comments. I recognise and identify Exhibits H2 and H3 as the said comment. On receipt of these the Military Governor directed his Military personal assistant to acknowledged receipt of the Chief Judge’s letter and at the same time send a copy to the Director of the N.S.O. for his comments. The officer was Captain Babalola. I believe and knew the directives were carried out. The State Director of the N.S.O., forwarded a more comprehensive report to the Military Governor reaffirming his earlier report. Exhi bits H4 to H6 are the report. Thereafter the Military Governor directed me to acknowledge receipt of the letter and at the same time, ask the Judicial Service committee to report back as a matter of urgency. Exhibits K1 and K2 are my said letters dated 15/3/85. About a week later, the Military Governor summoned me to his office and asked if there has been any reaction from the Judicial Service Committee and I told him there has been none as yet. He said he has discussed further with his State Director of the N.S.O. and that from all informations available to him has decided to exercise his powers under Decree No.17, 1984 and has therefore approved, immediate retirement of the plaintiff. He directed that the Judicial Service Committee should be so informed that same day. Further that the retirement should be announced that same day over the radio and television. I carried out his directives, Exhibit L is the action I took. I did the announcement also.”

I think it was very clear to the parties concerned that it was the Military Governor who took the decision to retire the Plaintiff from service. I entirely agree with the court below when it said: “The learned Senior Advocate had argued that the word used in exhibit ‘C’ is ‘approved’ which word connotes that someone other than the Military Governor took the decision to retire the respondent and the 3rd Appellant merely approved. With profound respect to the learned Senior Advocate, his argument is merely a play on words.” I resolve this issue also against the Plaintiff. I now turn to issue 3. The crucial point here is whether exhibit ‘C’ which emanated from the Judicial Service Committee was written on the instruction of the Military Governor. In other words, is there proof that the Military Governor actually directed that the judicial Service Committee should terminate the appointment. It was contended that in the circumstances of this case, there was no proof that the Military Governor ordered the termination of the Plaintiff’s appointment; the evidence of DW4 was hearsay. It was argued that a distinction must be drawn (1) between the fact that the Military Governor gave an instruction to DW 4 and (2) the evidence in proof of the truth of the content of such an instruction. On the question whether DW 4 received instruction from the Military Governor, DW4’s evidence is direct evidence. However, it was said, that on the question of the truth or falsity of the instruction itself direct evidence must come from the giver i.e. the Military Governor. To the extent that DW4’s evidence purports not merely to show that he (DW4) received an instruction but to prove the truth of the content of the statement, it was submitted that the evidence is hearsay. Learned Counsel for the Plaintiff relied on the case of Subramanian v. Public Prosecutor (1956) WLR 966. For the Defendants it was submitted that the Court of Appeal was right when it held that DW 4’s evidence was not hearsay. DW4’s evidence is admissible and was given to supply the obvious lacuna. For this submission counsel relied on A.I. Wilson v. A.G. Bendel State (1985) NWLR (Pt. 4) 572. It was also the contention of the Defendants that the evidence of DW4 is admissible under sections 76, 77 (b) and 149(c) of the Evidence Act and has shown convincingly and unequivocally that the Plaintiff’s retirement was effected by the 3rd Defendant by virtue of the powers conferred on him under Decree No.17 of 1984. PAGE| 14 In its reaction to the submission that the evidence of DW4 was hearsay and therefore inadmissible, the court below per Ogundare JCA (as he then was) held as follows:

“The learned trial judge gave no reason(s) for not accepting the evidence of DW4. It is not enough to say “I do not accept. If the duty was on the learned trial judge to evaluate the DW4 before deciding whether or not to accept it. I can find no justification for his not accepting the evidence of the witness and acting on it more so that the evidence was supported by other evidence, mostly documentary, given in the case. True enough, an appeal court will not normally interfere with the trial court’s view of credibility of witnesses. As Obaseki J.S.C. put it in Ebba v. Ogodo (1984) 4 SC 84, 90-91:

“This Court has times without number emphasised that it is no business of the appeal court to substitute its view of the evidence for that of the learned trial judge and I find it again necessary to point out that miscarriage of justice will definitely result from adopting such a course of action when it is unwarranted. The need to ensure that justice is not miscarriage should always dominate the attitude and thinking of appeal of fact. See Victor Woluchem & ors. v. Chief Simeon Gudi & Ors. (1981) 5 SC 319 at 326; Akinloye v. Eyiyola (1968) NMLR 92 at 95 SC; Obisanya v. Nwoko (1974) 6 SC 69 at 80; Lawal v. Dawodu (1972) 1 All NLR (Pt. 2) 270 at 286; Kakarah v. Imonikhe (1974) 4 SC 153, Magaji v. Odofin (1978) 4 SC 91. But equally so, where evidence is not challenged or contradicted it ought to be accepted. In Adejumo v. Ayantegbe (1989) 3 NWLR 417, 435 D-E, Nnaemeka-Agu, JSC in his lead judgment said; “It is true, as pointed out by the Court of Appeal, that the evidence of the Respondent that he had the authority and support of the whole members of that section was not challenged or contradicted. It ought therefore to be accepted, as there is nothing on the other side of the balance: See Nwabuoku v. Haddad (1973) 11 SC 357” In my respectful view, therefore, the learned trial Judge was in error not to have accepted and acted on the evidence of DW4, the evidence not having been challenged nor contradicted. The learned trial Judge held the view that the probabative value of the evidence of DW4 to the effect that Exhibit ‘C’ was issued on the instruction of the 3rd appellant exercising power vested in him by law, was not cogent enough. He gave as reasons for so holding that there is no document evidencing that instruction and that the witness did not explain why Exhibit ‘C’ did not spell out that it was issued on the instruction of the 3rd Appellant in the exercise of the powers conferred on him by Decree No. 17.

With the utmost respect to the learned trial judge, the reasons given by him for whittling down the probative value of the evidence of DW4 are untenable and unconvincing. To begin with, it would not accord with normal official relationship to expect that every instruction given by a Military Governor or Chief Executive for that matter, to the Secretary to the Military Government (as DW4 was at that material time) or other subordinates of his must of necessity be in writing to render evidence on it capable of acceptance. To hold, as the learned trial Judge did, will amount to ignoring section 75 of the Evidence Act which provides: “75 All facts, except the contents of documents, may be proved by oral evidence.” And section 148 (c) of the Act which too provides: “148. The court may presume the existence of any fact which it think’s likely to have happened, regard being had to the common course of natural events, human conduct and public and private business, in their relation to the facts of the particular case, and in particular the court may presume – (c) that the common course of business has been followed in particular cases” The fact, therefore, that the 3rd appellant gave certain instructions to DW4 can be proved by oral evidence of either the 3rd appellant or DW4. Whether the instructions were fully carried out to the word is a different matter which also can only be resolved by evidence. I have earlier held that Exhibit ‘C’ need not state on its face that the act done therein was done pursuant to Decree No.17. I need not go over that issue again. The learned trial Judge also said that evidence of DW4 was ‘no more than hearsay evidence’, thereby insinuating that the evidence was inadmissible. I think even here too, the learned trial Judge, with respect to him, was in error. He seemed not to have adverted his mind to Section 76(b) of the Evidence Act which provides:

“76. Oral evidence must, in all cases (b) if it refers to a fact which could be heard, it must be the evidence of witness who says he heard that fact”

In the light of the above Statutory provision, the evidence of DW4 could not be described as hearsay; it is very much admissible and showed convincingly that respondent’s retirement was effected under Decree No.17″ I could not put it better myself. This is a complete answer to this issue. The evidence of DW4 has shown convincingly and unequivocally that the Exhibit “C” was issued on the instruction of the Military Governor exercising power, vested in him by law. That explains why this witness’s evidence was not and could not be challenged or contradicted. The learned trial judge was clearly in grave error not to have accepted and acted on the evidence of DW4. This issue is also resolved against the Plaintiff. Issue 5: This issue relates to the comments made by the Court of Appeal on the conduct of third parties, when the said conduct was not made a ground of appeal. In the course of his judgment, Ogundare JCA (as he then was) said:

“I cannot end the judgment without commenting briefly on the conduct of the erstwhile public officers that featured in this case. First, is the then State Attorney-General Mr. Okolo who made available to the respondent a copy of a written advice he rendered to the 3rd Appellant. His conduct was not only in breach of the ethics of the profession relating to confidentiality as between client and solicitor, it would in my humble view, be in breach of his oath of office. I cannot fathom what his motive was in behaving as he did. Perhaps I should say no more. The second is the State Chief Judge at the relevant period. This attitude to the serious allegation made against the respondent in Exhibit H1 is to say the least, rather unfortunate. He did not see anything wrong in a serving magistrate acting as managing director to a privately owned company. Bearing in mind that he was the chairman of the 1st Appellant, it is little wonder that that body could not act with despatch when the 3rd appellant through DW4 referred the matter to it for urgent action.” These comments have come under criticism by learned counsel for the Plaintiff on the ground that there was no ground of appeal relating to the conduct of these officers. My short answer to this is that the court below and any court for that matter is entitled to comment on the despicable conduct of public officers to serve as a deterrent to other public officers and to avoid a repeat performance.

Finally, one does not need a magnifying glass to see that the comments complained of did not influence the decision of the court. In the result this appeal fails and it is dismissed. Accordingly I affirm the judgment of the Court of Appeal delivered on 12 July, 1990. The Defendants/Respondents are entitled to costs which I assess at N10,000.00.

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SC 72/1994