The Supreme Court has imposed a N50 million cost against lawyer S.M. Danyaro and barred him from appearing before any court in Nigeria until he fully complies with its orders, following what the apex court described as an abuse of judicial process.
The ruling was delivered in relation to an application the court considered frivolous, improper, and an attempt to reopen issues that had already been conclusively determined by the nation’s highest court.
Justice Jamilu Tukur delivered the lead decision, while Justice Chioma Nwosu-Iheme, in a concurring opinion, strongly criticized the conduct of the lawyer and supported the sanctions imposed against him.
According to the court, the application sought a review of matters that had already been settled in a previous judgment, despite the long-established principle that decisions of the Supreme Court are final and binding.
Justice Nwosu-Iheme described the filing as one of the most irresponsible applications ever presented before the court, stating that it failed to meet basic legal standards and reflected a serious disregard for established judicial principles.
She further held that the application amounted to professional misconduct and represented an improper attempt to relitigate issues that had already been conclusively resolved by the apex court.
Consequently, the Supreme Court dismissed the application in its entirety and reaffirmed its earlier judgment delivered on June 4, 2025, in the same matter.
As part of the sanctions, the court ordered Danyaro to personally pay N50 million to the respondents within 90 days. The justices held that the application unnecessarily consumed judicial time and appeared designed to frustrate already concluded proceedings.
The court also directed the lawyer to file proof of compliance in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Supreme Court Rules.
In addition, the apex court ruled that he would not be granted the right of audience before any court in Nigeria until he demonstrates full compliance with the orders issued against him.
The dispute stems from a prolonged legal battle concerning the Emirate of Gwandu in Kebbi State.
Earlier in June 2025, the Supreme Court overturned decisions of lower courts that had reinstated Al-Mustapha Jokolo as the 19th Emir of Gwandu.
In a split judgment, the court held that the legal action was filed prematurely because the claimant failed to follow statutory procedures requiring a formal complaint to be submitted to the state governor before initiating court proceedings.
The justices concluded that the failure to comply with the mandatory pre-action process deprived the trial court of jurisdiction, rendering the entire case invalid.
Following that judgment, Danyaro filed an application seeking a review of the decision, a move the Supreme Court has now firmly rejected while imposing significant penalties on the lawyer.
