SUPREME COURT OF NIGERIA

SC. 71/2000 CITATION: (2004) 5 S.C. (PT. II) 49

CORAM
IDRIS LEGBO KUTIGI,                                 JUSTICE SUPREME COURT
UTHMAN MOHAMMED                            JUSTICE SUPREME COURT
SLYVESTER UMARU ONU                          JUSTICE SUPREME COURT
UMARU ATU KALGO                                 JUSTICE SUPREME COURT
NIKI TOBI                                                    JUSTICE SUPREME COURT

BETWEEN

1. WAYO UBWA                                                                    (DEFENDANTS/APPELLANT) DEFENDANTS/RESPONDENTS

2. TIV AREA TRADITIONAL COUNCIL

3. KWANDE LOCAL GOVENMENT TRADITIONAL COUNCIL

4.    THE TOR TIV

5.    THE GOVERNOR OF BENUE STATE

6.    THE HON. ATTORNEY-GENERAL OF BENUE STATE

AND

1.    JOHN BEGHA YAWEH                                                        PLAINTIFFS/RESPONDENTS

2.    TYOWUA BASHI   

Facts:

The panel of justice at the Court of Appeal who heard the appeal were Akpabio, Umoren, and Chukwuma-Emeh, JJCA. Judgment was however delivered by Akpabio, Umoren and Mangaji, JJCA. The present appellants appealed inter alia on the above ground. The Supreme Court held that the judgment was a nullity and ordered a rehearing of the appeal.

Issues:
Whether the judgment delivered by a Justice of the Court of Appeal who was not part of the panel that heard the appeal invalidated the entire decision.

Matters Considered:

1.    Judgment delivered by a Justice who did not participate in the hearing of an appeal – whether renders the entire proceedings null and void.

2.    On Constitution of the Court of Appeal for the purpose of delivering judgment.

Principles Considered and Held:
1. Judgment delivered by a Justice who did not participate in the hearing of an appeal – whether renders the entire proceedings null and void – The argument of Mr. Ofodile Okafor SAN for the Appellant is that although a Justice of the Court of Appeal who did not hear an appeal may sit in the panel to deliver a written judgment of a brother Justice who heard the appeal but who is otherwise unavailable, a judgment written by a Justice who did not participate in the hearing of the appeal will vitiate the proceeding and render it a nullity. That in this case the panel that heard the appeal consisted of Akpabio, Umoren and Chukwuma-Eneh JJCA., but the judgments delivered were those of Akpabio, Umoren and Mangaji, JJCA … I think Mr. Okafor is right. I agree with him. The appeal must therefore succeed on this issue alone. It is hereby allowed. The entire proceedings before the Court of Appeal were a nullity because all the members who heard the appeal and those who wrote the judgments were not the same. In other words all the members who wrote the judgments were not all present throughout the hearing of the appeal which includes delivery of judgment. The judgment of the Court of Appeal delivered on 14th February 2000 is therefore a nullity. It is accordingly set aside. (Pg. 148,149

(b)    The judgment of the Court of Appeal is a nullity since Mangaji, JCA did not take part in hearing the appeal he cannot therefore write a judgment in the case. (Pg. 149)

(c)    By section 247(1) of the 1999 Constitution and Section 9 of the Court of Appeal Act, Cap.75 (Laws of Federation 1990) the Court of Appeal is duly constituted for purpose of hearing and determining any appeal, if it consists of at least three Justices of that Court. And although a Justice of the court who did not take part in hearing an appeal may lawfully deliver a judgment or opinion of another Justice who took part in hearing the appeal but is unavoidably absent, any judgment delivered by the three Justices in any appeal must be by those Justices who actually heard the appeal. Failure to do so, will render the judgment a nullity. (Pg. 150)

2.    On Constitution of the Court of Appeal for the purpose of delivering judgment – By section 294(4) of the Constitution, one member of the Court of Appeal can deliver the decision of the court. In other words, the Constitution does not provide that for the purpose of delivering judgment, the provision of section 247(1) must be complied with. (Pg. 150)

JUDGMENT

I. L. KUTIGI, JSC. (Lead Judgment): Because of the nature of the order which I intend to make finally in this appeal, I do not wish to say anything about the facts and or merit of the case at this stage especially when it is realised that the case may later return to this Court. I will therefore confine myself to the short but decisive preliminary point of law relating to the judgments of the Court of Appeal only.

This is an appeal against the judgments of the Court of Appeal holden at Jos in appeal No.      CA/J/12/1995 delivered on the 14th day of February 2000.
The lead judgment herein, dismissing Appellant‘s appeal, was delivered by Akpabio, JCA. who presided and was concurred by Umoren and Mangaji, JJCA. (see pages 240 - 253 of the record). However, the record shows on page 238, that the appeal was heard by the panel of Akpabio, Umoren, and Chukwuma-Eneh, JJCA. on 18/11/99 when judgment was reserved till 27/1/2000. On 27/1/2000 judgments were not ready and the case was further adjourned to 14/2/2000 by the panel consisting of Akpabio, Chukwuma-Eneh and Mangaji, JJCA. There was no question of rehearing the appeal all over again on that day. Judgments in the appeal were finally delivered on 14/2/2000 by the panel of Akpabio, Muhammad and Umoren JJCA.

Dissatisfied with the judgments of the Court of Appeal the Appellant has further appealed to this court. And one of the three (3) issues submitted to this court for determination is:-

"(2)    Whether the Court of Appeal was duly constituted when the judgment subject matter of this appeal was delivered on the 14th February 2000"

I say straight away that for the purpose of delivering judgment, the Court was properly constituted on 14/2/2000. Three (3) Justices were present as shown above, when in fact even one or two Justices would have been sufficient for the purpose i.e simply to read the judgments (see Section 294(4) of the 1999 Constitution below). The real problem here therefore is that instead of reading the judgment prepared or written by Chukwuma-Eneh JCA who took part with two others in the hearing of the appeal on 18/11/99, it was the judgment of one Mangaji JCA who did not hear the appeal that was read. So, the proper question or Issue to resolve is -

"Whether the judgments delivered by the Court of Appeal on 14/2/2000 were valid or not" and not issue (2) of the Appellant reproduced above which I have already answered in the affirmative. The argument of Mr. Ofodile Okafor SAN for the Appellant is that although a Justice of the Court of Appeal who did not hear an appeal may sit in the panel to deliver a written judgment of a brother Justice who heard the appeal but who is otherwise unavailable, a judgment written by a Justice who did not participate in the hearing of the appeal will vitiate the proceeding and render it a nullity. That in this case the panel that heard the appeal consisted of   Akpabio, Umoren and Chukwuma-Eneh JJCA., but the judgments delivered were those of Akpabio, Umoren and Mangaji, JJCA. It was pointed out that as Mangaji JCA. did not take part in the hearing of the appeal, he could not validly write a judgment in the case. It was a nullity and the entire proceeding was consequently a nullity. Reference was made to Section 247(1) and Section 294 (2) & (4) of the 1999 Constitution.
They are as follows-

"247(1)    For the purpose of exercising any jurisdiction conferred upon it by this Constitution or any other law, the Court of Appeal shall be duly constituted if it consists of not less than three Justices of the Court of Appeal ..."

"294(2)    Each Justice of the Supreme Court or of the Court of Appeal shall express and deliver his opinion in writing, or may state in writing that he adopts the opinion of another Justice who delivers a written opinion:

Provided that it shall not be necessary for all the Justices who heard a cause or matter to be present when judgment is to be delivered and the opinion of a Justice may be pronounced or read be any other Justice whether or not he was present at the hearing."

"294(4) For the purpose of delivering its decision under this section, the Supreme Court, or the Court of Appeal shall be deemed to be duly constituted if at least one member of that Court sits for that purpose."
(Underlining supplied by me).

A number of cases were also cited in support including QUEEN V. GOVERNOR - IN - COUNCIL W.R. EX-PARTE LANIY AN OJO (1962) ALL N.L.R. 149, MADUKOLU V.      NKEMDILIM (1962) ALL N.L.R. (PT. 2) 582, MAI RAI V. BAUCHI N.A. (1957) N.N.L.R. 31, NANA TAWIAH V. KWESI EWUDZI 3 WACA 52, OTWIWA & ANOR. V. KWASEKO 3 WACA 230, CHAPMAN V. CFAO 9 WACA 181.

I think Mr. Okafor is right. I agree with him. The appeal must therefore succeed on this issue alone. It is hereby allowed.

The entire proceedings before the Court of Appeal were a nullity because all the members who heard the appeal and those who wrote the judgments were not the same. In other words all the members who wrote the judgments were not all present throughout the hearing of the appeal which includes delivery of judgment. The judgment of the Court of Appeal delivered on 14th February 2000 is therefore a nullity. It is accordingly set aside. It is hereby ordered that the Appeal No. CA/J/12/95 shall be heard de novo by another panel of Jos Division of the Court of Appeal. The Defendant/Appellant is awarded costs of N10,000.00 against the Plaintiffs/Respondents.
 
UTHMAN MOHAMMED, JSC: I agree. The judgment of the Court of Appeal is a nullity since Mangaji, JCA did not take part in hearing the appeal he cannot therefore write a judgment in the case. I too allow the appeal and send the case back to the Court of Appeal, Jos Division, for hearing de novo before a different constituted panel of that court. I abide by the award made on costs.

S.U.ONU, JSC: Having been privileged to read in advance the judgment of my learned brother Kutigi, JSC just delivered, I am in entire agreement with him that there is merit in this appeal.

In the result, I too allow the appeal and declare the entire proceedings in Appeal No. CA/J/12/95 before the Court of Appeal on 14th February, 2000 a nullity.

It is accordingly set aside and a retrial ordered before another Panel of the Jos Division of the Court of Appeal with the order for costs as therein made.

U. A. KALGO JSC: I entirely agree with the judgment of my learned brother Kutigi JSC just delivered by him in this appeal which I had the privilege of reading earlier. His findings and conclusion on issue 2, make it unnecessary to consider the other two issues raised by the appellant in his brief of argument. Issue 2 reads:-

"2.    Whether the Court of Appeal was duly constituted when the judgment subject matter of this appeal was delivered on the 14th February 2000."

By section 247(1) of the 1999 Constitution and Section 9 of the Court of Appeal Act, Cap.75 (Laws of Federation 1990) the Court of Appeal is duly constituted for purpose of hearing and determining any appeal, if it consists of at least three Justices of that Court. And although a Justice of the court who did not take part in hearing an appeal may lawfully deliver a judgment or opinion of another Justice who took part in hearing the appeal but is unavoidably absent, any judgment delivered by the three Justices in any appeal must be by those Justices who actually heard the appeal. Failure to do so, will render the judgment a nullity. See, Adeigbe & Anr V. Kushimo & ors (1965) All NLR (Reprint) 260 (1965) NMLR 285 at 287. Okolie Chime & Anr. V. Ofili Elikwu & Anr (1965) All NLR (Reprint) 449.

In the instant appeal, it is very clear that on the 18th of November 1999 when this appeal was heard denovo by the Court of Appeal, the membership of the Court on that day consisted of Akpabio, Umoren and Chukwuma-Eneh JJCA and the judgment was later delivered on 14th February 2000. But looking at pp.240-253 of the record of appeal, it was abundantly clear that those who wrote the judgment were Akpabio JCA (Leading), Umoren and Mangaji JJCA (concurring). This means that Mangaji JCA who did not take part in the hearing of the appeal on 18th November 1999, wrote a concurring judgment in the appeal. And although the court was properly constituted of three Justices on 14th February, 2000, the judgment which was delivered was not by those who heard the appeal on 18th November, 1999. That is contrary to the provisions of the 1999 Constitution and all principles of law and vitiates the whole proceedings.

It is for the above and the more detailed reasons given by Kutigi JSC in the leading judgment that I agree that there is merit in this appeal on this issue alone. I accordingly allow it, set aside the decision of the Court of Appeal and order a rehearing of the appeal in the Court of Appeal by a different panel of that Court. I abide by other consequential orders made in the leading judgment including the order as to costs.

NIKI TOBI, JSC: I have read the judgment of my learned brother, Kutigi, JSC and I agree with him. By section 294(4) of the Constitution, one member of the Court of Appeal can deliver the decision of the court. In other words, the Constitution does not provide that for the purpose of delivering judgment, the provision of section 247(1) must be complied with. In such a situation, the proviso to section 294(2) of the Constitution provides an answer, read together with section 294(4).

Section 247(1) provides that in the exercise of its jurisdiction, the Court of Appeal must be duly constituted by at least three justices of the court. This means that the minimum number of justices to constitute a panel of the Court of Appeal is three.

In this appeal, the appeal was heard by Akpabio, Umoren and Chukwuma-Eneh, JJ.CA on 18th November, 1999 when judgment was reserved to 27th January, 2000. The judgment was not ready on 27th January, 2000 and it was further adjoined to 14th February, 2000. Came 14th February, 2000, the judgment was delivered by a panel of Akpabio, Muhammed and Umoren, JJ.CA. The judgments that were delivered were those of Akpabio, Umoren and Mangaji, JJ.CA. As seen from above, Mangaji, JCA was not in the panel that heard the appeal. It was Chukwuma-Eneh, JCA who was in the panel with the two others and not Mangaji, JCA.

In view of the fact that Mangaji, JCA was not in the panel, he could not have written any judgment for delivery. In the circumstances, the entire proceedings in the Court of Appeal are a nullity. I set aside the judgment of the Court of Appeal. I hereby order that the matter be head de novo by another panel of the court. I also award N10,000.00 cost in favour of the plaintiffs/respondents.

Counsel:

Ofodile Okafor, SAN with him B. I. Wayo and Jude Okoro for the Defendant/Appellant

B. I. Horn with him T. Ayua Jor for the Plaintiffs/Respondents

Cases referred to in the judgment:

Adeigbe & Anr V. Kushimo & Ors (1965) ALL NLR (Reprint) 260 (1965) NMLR 285

Chapman V. Cfao 9 WACA 181

Madukolu V. Nkemdilim (1962) ALL N.L.R. (PT. 2) 582; (2001) 3 SCM, 185

Mai Rai V. Bauchi N.A. (1957) N.N.L.R. 31

Nana Tawiah V. Kwesi Ewudzi 3 WACA 52

Okolie Chime & Anr. V. Ofili Elikwu & Anr. (1965) All NLR (Reprint) 449.

Otwiwa & Anor. V. Kwaseko 3 WACA 230

Queen V. Governor-in-council W.R. Ex-partelanly an Ojo (1962) ALL N.L.R. 149.