Order 20 Supreme Court Rules

Order 20 of the Supreme Court Rules 2024 is about Judgment. It contains the following rules:

Order 20 Rule 1 Supreme Court Rules 2024 – Delivery of judgment

The judgment of the Court shall be pronounced in open Court or al a virtual hearing cither on the day the suit or appeal was heard or at any subsequent time, prior to which notice shall be given by the Registrar to the parties in the appeal.

Order 20 Rule 2 Supreme Court Rules 2024 – Notice to counsel of reserved judgment

Whenever a reserved judgment is to be given and the Counsel concerned are duly notified, the presence of such Counsel or their juniors is required in Court when judgment is being delivered. Failure to observe this will be regarded as an act of disrespect to the Court.

Order 20 Rule 3 Supreme Court Rules 2024 – Enrollment of judgment

(1) Every judgment of the Court shall be embodied in an order.

(2) A sealed or certified copy of the order shall be sent by the Registrar to the Court below.

(3) Interlocutory orders shall be prepared in like manner.

Order 20 Rule 4 Supreme Court Rules 2024 – Review of judgment

The Court shall not review any judgment once given and delivered by it save to correct any clerical mistake or some error arising from any accidental – slip or omission, or to vary the judgment or order so as to give effect to its meaning or intention. A judgment or order shall not be varied when it correctly represents what the Court decided nor shall the operative and substantive part of it be varied and a different form substituted.

Order 20 Rule 5 Supreme Court Rules 2024 – Execution of judgment

Any decision, including judgment, decree or order given by the Court may be enforced by the Court or by any other Court with subordinate jurisdiction which has been seised of the matter.

Order 20 Rule 6 Supreme Court Rules 2024 – Execution of judgment by Court below (Form 37)

When any decision of the Court including judgment, decree or order is to be enforced by any other Court with subordinate jurisdiction, a Certificate under the seal of the Court and the hand of the Chief Justice of Nigeria ortho Presiding Justice setting forth the decision shall be filed in such other Court, and the latter Cour! shall enforce such decision in terms of the certificate.

Order 20 Rule 7 Supreme Court Rules 2024 – Costs

Where the costs of an appeal are allowed, they may cither be fixed by the Court at the time when the judgment is given or may be ordered to be taxed.

Order 20 Rule 8 Supreme Court Rules 2024 – Final disposal of exhibits or documents

Upon the final determination of an appeal for the purposes of which the Registrar has obtained from the Registrar of the Court below any original depositions, exhibits, information, inquisition, pica or other documents usually kept by the said Registrar, or forming part of the record of the Court below, the Registrar, shall, where practicable, cause the same to be returned to the Registrar of the Court below.

Order 20 Rule 9 Supreme Court Rules 2024 – Interlocutory judgment

No interlocutory judgment or order from which there has been no appeal shall operate to bar or prejudice the Court from giving such decision on the appeal as may seem just.

Order 20 Rule 10 Supreme Court Rules 2024 – Powers of court to give orders

(1) The Court shall have power to give any judgment or make any order that ought to have been made and to make such further order(s) as the case may require including any order as to costs.

(2) The powers contained in sub-rule(1) of this Rule may be exercised by the Court. notwithstanding that the Appellant may have asked that part only of a decision may he reversed or varied, and may also be exercised in favor of all or any of the Respondents or parties, although such Respondents or parties may not have, appealed from or complained of the decision.