The Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed a £950 trillion rights suit filed by businessman Tunde Omosebi against former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar and others.
The court described the case as “highly unreasonable.”
Delivering judgment on Thursday, Justice James Omotosho struck out the suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/767/2024, citing procedural irregularities and lack of a reasonable cause of action.
Omosebi had, in an originating motion, dated and filed June 5, 2024, sued Hallies & Partner Ltd, Atiku Abubakar, Clifford Odibe, and Daniel Mbohok as the 1st to 4th defendants, respectively.
However, he later amended the suit without the court’s permission, expanding the list of defendants to 13 by May 5.
In his statement attached to the motion, Omosebi identified himself as a businessman and politician, claiming positions as Chairman of the Federal Executive Council and Prime Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
He alleged that agents of Hallies & Partner Ltd assaulted and criminally intimidated him at his office on July 6, 2023, leaving him with threats and inhumane comments that infringed on his liberty and dignity.
Omosebi demanded £950 trillion as compensation for the alleged assault, criminal intimidation, and trauma, along with an order compelling the defendants to tender public apologies in national and international media outlets in perpetuity.
He also sought an order restricting the defendants and their associates from coming within a 20-kilometre radius of his businesses and properties, as well as £95 trillion in exemplary damages.
Justice Omotosho, in his ruling, reiterated the court’s responsibility to conserve judicial resources by filtering out frivolous and unreasonable cases.
The judge noted that the initial suit named four defendants but was later expanded to 13 without the court’s approval, a procedural flaw that contributed to the case’s dismissal.
He also highlighted that Omosebi had filed a separate suit against the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Olayemi Cardoso, and others, seeking a £990 trillion claim.
The court advised Omosebi to await judgment on that matter, which is pending.
Justice Omotosho used the occasion to caution members of the legal community, particularly the Nigerian Bar Association, against bringing frivolous lawsuits to court.
We cannot continue this way because the temple of justice is not open for everything,” he said.
In the related suit involving the CBN governor and several commercial banks, the court fixed June 4 for ruling on the defendants’ preliminary objections