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<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b><u><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">REPRESENTATION<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">PAUL O. EBILA with VIVIANNE ANIFON for the claimant<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">EMMANUEL DAVID for the defendants<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><u><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">JUDGEMENT<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.25in;text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin">The Claimant instituted this suit against the defendants jointly and severally accompanied by the Statement of Facts, List of Witnesses, Written Statement of Witnesses and List of Documents on the 25<sup>th</sup> of February, 2016.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.25in;text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin">WHEREOF the claimant claims as follows:<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left:.5in;mso-add-space:auto; text-align:justify;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo1"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size:13.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"">1.<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-size:13.0pt;line-height: 115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin">AN ORDER</span></b><span style="font-size: 13.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin"> directing the Defendant to pay the Claimants their unpaid salaries/wages and deductions made on same, amounting to N231, 000.00 (Two Hundred and Thirty-One Thousand Naira only).<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left:.5in;mso-add-space:auto; text-align:justify;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo1"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size:13.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"">2.<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-size:13.0pt;line-height: 115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin">AN ORDER</span></b><span style="font-size: 13.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin"> directing the Defendant to refund to the Claimants the sum of N200, 000 (Two Hundred Thousand Naira only) being professional fees jointly paid to their solicitors to prosecute this suit.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left:.5in;mso-add-space:auto; text-align:justify;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo1"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size:13.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"">3.<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-size:13.0pt;line-height: 115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin">AN ORDER</span></b><span style="font-size: 13.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin"> directing the Defendant to pay the Claimants the sum of #1, 000,000.00 damages for breach of contract to pay them their salaries/wages as and when due at the end of every month that they duly performed their duties.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size: 13.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size: 13.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin">The Defendant filed MOTION<b> ON NOTICE</b> on 4<sup>th</sup> March, 2016 supported by an 8 paragraph affidavit deposed to by Vincent Effa, praying the Court for an Order dismissing this suit for being an abuse of Court process<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><b><span style="font-size:13.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin">The DEFENDANTS in their WRITTEN ADDRESS IN SUPPORT OF MOTION ON NOTICE raised the following as ISSUES<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left:.5in;mso-add-space:auto; text-align:justify;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size:13.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"">1.<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size:13.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin">Whether this Suit as constituted amounts to abuse of Court process.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left:.5in;mso-add-space:auto; text-align:justify;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size:13.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"">2.<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size:13.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin">Whether this Suit can be dismissed for being abuse of Court process.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left:.5in;mso-add-space:auto; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><b><span style="font-size:13.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin">ON ISSUE 1<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><b><span style="font-size:13.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin">Whether this Suit as constituted amounts to abuse of Court process<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:13.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin">Learned counsel for the defendants Emmanuel David Esq. submitted that Suit No: MC/2/2016 as shown in Exhibit A is the same with this Suit (NICN/CA/07/2016) in every ramification thus: the parties, subject matter and the reliefs Sought are the same and as such amounts to abuse of Court Process. Learned defendant Counsel also submitted that where there is multiplicity of action on the same subject matter, between the same Parties and seeking the same reliefs it amounts to an abuse of Court process. See <b><span style="color:red">ABUBAKAR V. BEBEJI AND ALLIED PRODUCTS (2008) 15 WRN 111 HELD 17; R-BENKAY (NIG.) LIMITED VS. CADBURY (NIG.) LIMITED (2012) 39 WRN 6, HELD 2.</span></b><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:13.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin">Counsel to the defendants submitted that this Suit as constituted is an abuse of Court Process. The multiplicity of action on the same subject matter between the same Parties even where there exist a right to bring the action is regarded as an abuse. Citing <b><span style="color:red">SARAKI V. KOTOYE (1992) NWLR (PT. 264), PG.156. </span></b>Arguing that the abuse of judicial process is occasioned once there are 2 (Two) of more Suits simultaneously on same Parties, subject matter and reliefs. This Suit is filed simultaneously with Suit No: MC/2/2016 and so without doubt it is a sad example of an abuse of judicial process. <b><span style="color:red"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:13.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin">Defence Counsel submitted that the abuse of judicial process is equally an issue of jurisdiction which cannot be waved or amended. In fact any attempt to remedy the situation at hand will culminate in the further abuse of judicial process. Citing the dictum of <b><span style="color:red">MUKHTAR JCA</span></b><span style="color:red"> </span>echoed by Jege, JCA in <b><span style="color:red">USMAN VS BABA (2004)48 WRN 47 AT 67 LINES 15-40</span></b><span style="color:red"> </span><i>“it is an abuse of judicial process for the Plaintiff to file a Notice of Discontinuance so that he may have his way in a new Suit”.<o:p></o:p></i></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:13.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin">Learned defence Counsel further submitted that this suit by the Claimant is an abuse of Court Process, MC/2/2016 is still pending when the Claimant sought and commences this action. He prayed the court to hold that the Suit is an abuse of Court Process.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><b><span style="font-size:13.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin">ON ISSUE 2<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><b><span style="font-size:13.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin">Whether this Suit can be dismissed for being abuse of Court process.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:13.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin">Learned defence Counsel submitted that this Suit, being an abuse of Court Process is ripe for dismissal. The law is trite that once a Court is satisfied that any Proceedings before it, is an abuse of Court process, it has the power to dismiss it. Citing <b><span style="color:red">USMAN VS BABA (2004)48 WRN; NIB INVESTMENT (W.A) LTD VS GLANRIL ENTHOREN (NIG.) LTD. (2011)3 WRN 181 HELD 3 </span>where<span style="color:red"> DONGBAN-MENSEM JCA </span>stated<span style="color:red"> </span>“</b><i>Once a Court is satisfied that any Proceedings before it is an abuse of powers; it has the power, indeed the duty to dismiss it”.<span style="color:red"><o:p></o:p></span></i></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:13.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin">Defence Counsel submitted that when 2 (Two) actions of similar or same Parties and subject matter are being prosecuted concurrently before same Court or different Court; it is the latter in time that vacates. Citing <b><span style="color:red">DINGYADI VS INEC (2010)49 WRN 17 HELD 10</span>.</b><i>”It is that where the 2 (Two) actions of the same nature and between same parties and subject matter are being prosecuted concurrently before same Court or different Courts, it is the latter in time that vacates”. </i>Counsel for the defendant further submitted that in this case there is an abuse of judicial process; the Court should invoke its coercive powers to dismiss the abusive process.<i><span style="color:red"> </span></i><b><span style="color:red">DINGYADI VS INEC (SUPRA) HELD.</span></b><i><span style="color:red"><o:p></o:p></span></i></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:13.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin">The Claimants filed a 7 paragraph<b> COUNTER AFFIDAVIT </b>on 15<sup>th</sup> March, 2016 and dated same day deposed to by David Ubong Jeremiah.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><b><span style="font-size:13.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin">With a WRITTEN ADDRESS IN SUPPORT OF COUNTER AFFIDAVIT wherein the claimant raised one ISSUE<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><b><span style="font-size:13.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin">Whether, indeed, this suit as constituted amounts to abuse of court process?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:13.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin">Learned Counsel to the claimant Paul O. Ebiala Esq. submitted that the defendants objection was predicated on the hard fact that there are two suits pending between the parties herein on the same subject matter s and reliefs. And raised the question: “what constitutes an abuse of court process within the meaning of the law? counsel relied on the case of <b><span style="color:red">AFRICAN CONTINENTAL BANK PLC v. DAMIAN IKECHUKWU NWAIGWE LPELR (2011) SC: 35/2001</span></b>, per <b>Onnoghen, JSC</b>; <b><span style="color:red">SARAKI v. KOTOYE (1992) 9 NWLR (PT. 264) 156 @ 188; OKORODUDU . OKOROMADU (1977) 3 SC 21; OKAFOR v. A.G. ANAMBRA STATE (1991) 6 NWLR (PT. 200) 63 @ 681; NNANA v. NWANEBE (1991) 2 NWLR (PT. 172) 181; C.O.P. v. FASEHAN (1997) 9 NWLR (PT. 507) 171.</span></b><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:13.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin">Counsel to the claimant argued that in all the cases referred to by the defendant’s counsel in his argument in support of this application, two or more suits were instituted and existed simultaneously and ran their full course at the same time. That in the instant suit, there is no other suit pending before any court of law initiated by the claimants against the defendant on the same subject matter and reliefs. <b><span style="color:red">DINGYADI v. INEC (supra) <o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:13.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">On the 10<sup>th</sup> of May 2016 the defendants adopted their respective written addresses and adumbrated their positions accordingly.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><u><span style="font-size:13.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The Court’s Decision <o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:13.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">I have carefully summarized the positions of both sides, the arguments of opposing counsel and having carefully reviewed all the authorities cited, read through all the relevant processes and digested the contention of the parties and their written submission are herewith incorporated in this Judgement and specific mention would be made to them where the need arises. The issue for determination in this suit to my mind is whether the claimants suit constitutes an abuse of processes</span><span style="font-size:13.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align:justify;line-height:115%"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The position of the law is that in order to determine whether an abuse of the judicial process has occurred, <b><span style="color:red;mso-bidi-font-style: italic">AGWASIM V. OJICHIE [2004] 10 NWLR (PT. 882) 613</span></b><span style="color:red"> </span>laid down that the Court is expected to consider the content of the first process vis-à-vis the second to see whether they are aimed at achieving the same purpose.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align:justify;line-height:115%"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">To sustain a charge of abuse of process of the court, there must co-exist inter alia: <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align:justify;line-height:115%"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> • A multiplicity of suits <i><o:p></o:p></i></span></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align:justify;line-height:115%"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> • A suit is between the same opponents <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align:justify;line-height:115%"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> • The suit is on the same subject matter<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align:justify;line-height:115%"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> • The suit is on the same issue<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align:justify;line-height:115%"><b><span style="font-size:13.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; color:red;mso-bidi-font-style:italic">CHIEF VICTOR UMEH Vs. PROF. MAURICE IWU & 3 ORS [2008] 2SCNJ 272</span></b><i><span style="font-size:13.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:13.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-bidi-font-weight: bold">On What amounts to abuse of the process of court the court have recurrently held in the case of </span><b><span style="font-size:13.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; color:red">FEDERAL AIRPORTS AUTHORITY v. NWOYE (2015) 53 NLLR (PT. 180) 446 CA @ 455</span></b><span style="font-size:13.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";mso-bidi-font-weight:bold">, </span><span style="font-size:13.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">That where a party improperly uses the judicial process, intentionally in order to irritate and annoy his opponent, it can be said that such amounts to an abuse of the process of the Court. <b><span style="color:red">AFRICAN REINSURANCE CORP. v. JDP CONSTRUCTION NIG. LTD. (2003) 2-3 S.C. 47; (2003) 13 NWLR (PT. 838) 609 @ 635.</span><o:p></o:p></b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:13.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">This court in <b><span style="color:red">IKEME v. VC, UNIVERSITY OF NIG. & ORS. (2014) 40 NLLR (PT. 123) 466 NIC @ 470</span></b> Held that the fundamental criteria for determining that a case is an abuse of process is that there must exist a multiplicity of suits and such multiplicity of suits is intended to annoy or harass the opponent by so doing or temper with the judicial process. <b><span style="color:red">OGOJEOFOR V. OGOJEOFOR (2006) 3 NWLR (PT. 966) 205 @ 220; KOTOYE v. SARAKI (1992) 9 NWLR (PT. 264) 156 @ 188-189.<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align:justify;line-height:115%"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The reliefs/ orders sought in the processes filed in the Magistrate Court, I find are very much the same with the ones in this present application due regard having paid to the upturn in the claims for damages and professional fees , the parties are also somewhat the same;- while the claimants remained the same the defendants in the magistrate court was one Mr. Ernest Asuquo Bassey Atainyang doing business in the name and style of the Macbite Foods whereas in the instant suit the same claimants brought this action against Macbite foods limited. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align:justify;line-height:115%"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:13.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Flowing from the dictum of the learned justice Nik Tobi JCA as he then was in the case of <b><span style="color:red">FUMUDOH Vs. ABURO [1991] 9 NWLR (Pt. 241) 210 RATIO 19 CA</span></b><span style="color:red"> </span>where it was held that “the law is trite that a court can suo moto make reference to the case file before it and make use of any document it finds necessary” in coming to a decision, also the law is that any party alleging an abuse of court process must place before the court concrete evidence such as the processes of the other pending case or any such material particulars to enable the court make a finding that would enable it reach a decision on whether or not the facts and circumstances of the case indeed amount to an abuse of court process. <b><span style="color:red">IKEME v. VC, UNIVERSITY OF NIG. & ORS. Supra</span></b><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align:justify;line-height:115%"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">I have considered the originating processes and the proceedings from the magistrate court filed by parties in support of their respective arguments on this issue.</span><span style="font-size:13.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align:justify;line-height:115%"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align:justify;line-height:115%"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">From the claimants paragraph 5 of their statement of claim where they stated that “…at the point of entry, the defendant through its Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Mr. Earnest Asuquo Ataniyang….” I find, bearing in mind the legal pronouncement as to identity ;- in <b><span style="color:red">PFIZER INCORPORATED & ANOR V, PROF. IDRIS MOHAMMED [2013] 16 NWLR (PT. 1379) 155</span></b><span style="color:red"> </span>with regard to the position of the law where a party is incorrectly named, that defendants in both suits were the same as are the subject matter of both suits.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align:justify;line-height:115%"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align:justify;line-height:115%"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The idea of maintaining both cases in two separate courts is one that the courts have been most unwilling to contend. The law is that multiplicity of actions which involve the same parties and the same subject matter amount to abuse of court process and a court is duty bound to stop such abuse. <i>See </i><b><span style="color:red; mso-bidi-font-style:italic">PAVEX INTERNATIONAL CO. LTD Vs. IBWA [1994] 5 NWLR (Pt. 347) 685, OKORODUDU Vs. OKOROMADU [1977] 3 SC 21 AT 32, COP V. FASEHUN [1997] 6 NWLR (Pt. 507) 180 – 181 AND CHIEF OHWOVWIOGHOR IKINE Vs. CHIEF OLORI EDJERODE [2001] SC 43</span></b><i>.</i> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align:justify;line-height:115%"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align:justify;line-height:115%"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Now, in the instant case the claimant have exhibited a certified true copy of what they purported to be the proceedings of the 7<sup>th</sup> of March 2016 in respect of the matter filed in the Magistrate Court Calabar.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align:justify;line-height:115%"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align:justify;line-height:115%"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">I am aware of the position of the law that it is an abuse of the judicial process for a plaintiff to file a notice of discontinuance so that he may have his way in a new suit. <i>See </i><b><span style="color:red;mso-bidi-font-style:italic">OLAWOLE V. OLANREWAJU [1998] 1 NWLR (Pt. 534) 436 at 455</span></b>. The authorities go on to state that a trial court has jurisdiction to strike out a matter with an order barring the applicant from instituting the same action where, for instance, an enabling statute or law so specifically provides or when the matter being struck out is an abuse of judicial process. <i>See </i><b><span style="color:red;mso-bidi-font-style:italic">REGISTERED TRUSTEES OF IFELOJU V. KUKU [1991] 5 NWLR (Pt. 189) 65</span></b><i>. See generally, </i><b><span style="color:red;mso-bidi-font-style:italic">ALHAJI LATEEF AKINSOLA Vs. NATIONAL UNION OF ROAD TRANSPORT WORKERS (NURTW) & ORS [2013] 33 NLLR (Pt. 96) 399.<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align:justify;line-height:115%"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The law is that it is an abuse of process for a claimant to file a notice of discontinuance or withdraw from a suit so that he may have his way in another suit. This is exactly what the claimant did by withdrawing MC/2/2016 and I so find.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align:justify;line-height:115%"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">More especially as this instant suit was filed on the 25<sup>th</sup> February 2016 the said magistrate Court Suit MC/2/2016 was withdrawn on the 7<sup>th</sup> March 2016 as per averment 4 of the claimants counter affidavit. What this means is that this instant suit NICN/CA/07/2016 was instituted during the pendency of MC/2/2016. The actions of the claimant in t instituting this matter amounts to an abuse of process. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align:justify;line-height:115%"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align:justify;line-height:115%"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">From the foregoing I find that both the instant suit instituted within the pendency of MC/2/2016 and the said MC/2/2016, being a matter that was instituted in the Magistrate Court on the 6<sup>th</sup> January 2016 which was instituted by the same parties against the same defendants with the same claim, and therefore constitute an abuse of court process. See the case of <b><span style="color:red">SUIT NO: NICN/IB/63/2014 MICHAEL FOLORUNSO LANA Vs. THE GOVERNOR OF OYO STATE & ANOR DELIVERED 12TH NOVEMBER 2014.<i> </i> <u><o:p></o:p></u></span></b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:13.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The objection of the defendant has merit and consequently succeeds. The commencement of this suit constitutes an abuse of process and is hereby struck out<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:13.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Judgment is entered accordingly.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:13.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"">---------------------------------<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Hon. Justice E. N. Agbakoba<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Presiding Judge Calabar Division.<o:p></o:p></span></p>