Alhaji Saka Opobiyi & Anor V. Layiwola Muniru (2011)
LAWGLOBAL HUB Lead Judgment Report
OLUFUNLOLA OYELOLA ADEKEYE, J.S.C.
This appeal is against the judgment of the Court of Appeal; Ilorin delivered on the 11th day of July, 2002.
The background facts of this case which appears to have a remarkable history are that members of the family of one Tukur Gogo Olowo of Ile Panu, Masingba, Ilorin who died in 1924 approached the court as far back as 1979 for the distribution of his estate in accordance with Islamic Law of inheritance. There is no record of this case again until the plaintiffs, now appellants before this court, commenced an action on the 12th of October 1994 at the Upper Area Court No. 2 Oloje, Ilorin on this same subject matter. The action followed an order of retrial de novo made by the Kwara State Shariah Court of Appeal, Ilorin in its appeal session on the 22nd of August 1990.
The present parties both as plaintiffs/appellants and defendant/respondent came into the action by way of substitution for the grandsons of Tukur from his daughter Saratu as at 1994 and granddaughter of Tukur from his only son, Abudu-Salami. The current parties are in effect great grandsons of Tukur as appellants and great, great grandson of late Tukur as respondent; as all the original parties died in the course of litigation. It was in evidence that Tukur died in 1924 leaving daughters. There is additional evidence that he had a second wife one Awero who had a son, Usman for him. It is however not certain whether Tukur gave his second wife and her only son their inheritance before he died. The first female child of Tukur, Saratu died in 1923 – she predeceased her father Aishat, another daughter died in 1938, followed by Salamat who died in 1943. The son of Tukur, Abdulsalami died in 1960. Vide page 8 of the Record. Amina I, the wife of Tukur died in 1943. Vide page 9 of the Record Saratu’s death before her father deprived her of having any share in her father’s property. Tukur was reported to have landed properties and shares.
In the considered judgment of the Upper Area Court it was held that –
- As the 1st and 2nd plaintiffs in this case are not sure when Sarat died and her father Tukur, both the deceased cannot inherit each other. See Siraju Salik Vol. 11 page 238 last line. It is not certain who died first.
- The plaintiff failed to fulfill the remaining two guidelines prescribed by Sharia Court of Appeal, Kwara State, Ilorin i.e. (a) Certainty of the estate and (b) The date(s) of any heir who died before or after the deceased Tukur.
- That plaintiffs were within the categories who can inherit directly from Tukur’s property except Sarat but when Sarat and Tukur died was not known.
- That plaintiffs could not succeed in this case unless one Garuba is joined as Magaji of Ile Panu Masingba, Ilorin and as sons of Tukur in male side of Tukur’s children.
That plaintiff failed totally to establish his case as prescribed by law of inheritance also that Hadith say he who assert must prove plaintiff’s claim was dismissed based on the principle of the Golden Rule of Sharia. That plaintiffs/appellants being aggrieved by the judgment, appealed to the Shariah Court of Appeal, Ilorin.
The appeal was heard and in the Judgment delivered on the 3rd of October 1996, the court held as follows:-
We did not remit the matter to the trial court as an investigative panel which we therefore await its reply. The trial court is competent by the law establishing it to take a full decision which could be contested.
The trial court is to narrow the guideline to the following:-
a. Determine Abdulsalami, the son of Tukur acquired the title over the period of land claimed by the appellants to be the estate of Tukur in dispute excluding what had been given to Zainab.
b. Determine whether Sarah: predeceased or survived her father whose estate is in dispute with a view to determining whether she qualified or not as Tukurs heir.
c. Make a sketch of whatever is resolved to be the estate of Tukur.
d. Distribute the estate accordingly following the principles of estate distribution in Islamic Law.”
Appealed succeeds substantially.
The appellants were still dissatisfied with that portion of the judgment of the Shariah Court of Appeal, in respect of the Estate of Tukur in dispute excluding what had been given to Zainab, lodged a further appeal at the Court of Appeal, Ilorin.
The respondent prior to the hearing of the appeal by a motion filed on the 29th of January 2001 sought and obtained extension of time and leave to file Respondent’s Brief of Argument which also contained Notice and Argument of preliminary objection challenging the competency of both parties to sue and be sued respectively on the Estate of Tukur. The motion was granted as prayed and the appellant filed a Reply Brief thereafter, in reaction to the objection. The appeal came up for hearing on the 20th of May 2002. In the judgment delivered on the 11th of July 2002, the Court of Appeal, Ilorin found in favour of the respondent upholding the preliminary objection on the ground of lack of jurisdiction and struck out the appeal.
The appellants, disappointed by this judgment, approached this court for redress. They filed three grounds of appeal and settled three issues for determination as follows in the Appellants’ Brief filed on 28/3/08.
(a)Whether the lower court was not in error when it held without any concrete evidence that it appears that the incompetence in this suit relates to the time of the initiation of this action which had been conceded to by the learned counsel to the appellants, hence at the time of initiation when the grandchildren initiated action (sic) when their parents were alive (emphasis ours); thereby encouraging howbeit, inadvertently, proliferation and/or repetition of action and/or abuse of court’s process.
(b) Whether the lower court had not erroneously granted the respondent a relief that was never sought nor supported by evidence.
(c) Whether the lower court was in error by failing, refusing and/or neglecting to consider the appeal on its merit, despite its decision on the preliminary objection in the event its judgment was in error.
In the Respondents’ brief filed on 9/2/09, the respondent formulated one single issue for determination which reads: –
“Whether the Court of Appeal, Ilorin was right or wrong in striking out the appellants’ appeal on a preliminary objection embedded in respondent’s brief of argument challenging the competency-of both appellants and respondent to sue and be sued respectively on the estate of late Tukur”
In my view, the three issues raised by the appellants are not only clumsy; they also revolve round the same subject matter. They can readily be compressed into one issue. Since the issues raised by both parties are identical in content, I find it convenient to adopt the issue raised by the respondent in the determination of this appeal.
Issue for Determination
Whether the Court of Appeal, Ilorin was right or wrong in striking out the appellants’ appeal on a Preliminary Objection embedded in the respondent’s brief of argument challenging the competency of both Appellants and respondents to sue and be sued respectively on the estate of late Tukur
The appellants in their submission agreed that the issue of jurisdiction is equally important and fundamental but it cannot be raised in vaccuo without supportive evidence. The party raising it has to give cogent evidence to show how the issue in question affects the jurisdictional competence of that given court, more so when the issue is being raised for the first time on appeal. The respondent failed to adduce cogent evidence on the legal capacity of the appellants to sue and be sued on the estate of late Tukur. The respondent also failed to obtain the requisite leave of court to raise the issue of jurisdiction as a fresh issue. The respondent’s motion attached to Preliminary Objection had no supporting affidavit and the motion itself was not moved throughout the proceedings before the lower court. The lower court should have specifically ordered counsel to the parties to address it on the issue of jurisdiction instead of relying on the appellants’ reply brief. This court is urged to discountenance all the arguments and authorities cited by the respondent in his brief. The appellants cited cases in support of the foregoing submission – like
Hope v. Smurift (2007) 6 SCNJ 269
Eze v. A-G Rivers State (2001) 8 NSCQR pg.537
Chief of Air Staff v. Iyew (2005) 6 NWLR (pt.22) pg. 496
Mobil Producing Nig. Unlimited v. Monokpo (2003) 18 NWLR (pt.852) pg.346
Yusuf v. Union Bank (1996) 6 SCNJ 203
The respondent submitted that contrary to the impression of the appellants about the filing of notice of preliminary objection, the respondent filed a motion before the Court of Appeal on 29/1/01 for extension to time and leave to file respondent’s brief of argument with the notice of argument of preliminary objection challenging the competency of both parties to sue and be sued on the estate of Tukur The motion was moved and granted as prayed on the 15th of October, 2001. Vide page 129 of the Record. The appellants filed a reply brief on the 14th of November, 2001 where the issue raised in the notice of preliminary objection was properly argued.
The respondent argued and submitted further that the issue of the competence of a party to sue or be sued is determined by examination of the plaintiff’s claim before the court. The core issue which the parties approached the court for intervention is the sharing of the landed property of Tukur. According to Islamic Law, the appellants and the respondent fall within the class of heirs referred to in Islamic Law as Distant kindred; Dhul Arham. By this, they lack locus stand to sue or be sued respectively on the estate of Tukur whether as at the time the suit was initiated, the legally, recognized heirs of Tukur were alive or not. The lower court was right to strike out the appeal before it having discovered on the preliminary objection that both parties – the appellants and the respondent – lack the legal capacity to sue and be sued on the estate of Tukur. Where the issue of competency to sue and be sued is raised at any level of court, such issue must be determined first before proceeding to the substantive matter. The issue of jurisdiction being a fundamental issue can be raised at any state of the proceedings in the court of first instance, or in the appeal court for the first time and even in this court. In view of the fundamental nature of the issue of jurisdiction, it can be raised as a fresh issue without obtaining leave and this is applicable to this appeal. The respondent complied with the form, nature or procedure for raising a preliminary objection in an appeal. The respondent cited cases to buttress the foregoing submission on the issues raised.
Emezi v. Osuagwu (2005) 2 SC 128
Oloriode v. Oyebi (1984) 1 SCNLR 390
Nuhu v. Ogele (2003) 12 SC (pt.1) pg. 32
Yusuf v. Union Bank (1996) 6 SCNJ 203
Agbaka v. Amadi (1998) 7 SCNJ 367
Maigoro v. Garba (1999) 7 SCNJ pg.270
The appellants challenged the notice of preliminary objected filed before the lower court. It was their contention that objection being that touching the fundamental issue of jurisdiction of the parties to sue and be sued and that of the court lo entertain the suit was not properly raised before the court. I shall consider the form and procedure of how an objection can be raised. Order 3 Rule 15 (1) of the Court of Appeal rules 2007 enjoins a respondent intending to rely on a preliminary objection to the hearing of the appeal to give the appellant three clear days notice before the hearing, setting out the grounds of the objection and shall file twenty copies of the notice with the Registrar. The respondent served the Notice on the appellants’ counsel by attaching same as Exhibit A to the motion papers filed by the respondent on the 29th of January, 2001. By this same application, the respondent prayed for extension of time and leave to file the respondent’s brief of argument. According to the court proceedings of 15/10/01, the court granted the motion as prayed and allowed for seven days to file the respondent’s brief. The appellants filed the appellants’ reply brief on 14/11/01. When the appeal was heard on 20/5/02, the appellants’ counsel relied on the appellants’ brief and the reply brief filed on 14/11/01. It is the practice of this court to allow the respondent to argue any objection raised in the respondent’s brief. The court always ensure that the appellant has adequate time after receiving the respondent’s brief to file a reply brief. In the instant appeal, the appellant had more than the three days statutory notice required for filing a preliminary objection.
In the case of Maigoro v. Garba (1999) 7 SCNJ pg. 270 at pg. 282, this court emphasized the essence of Order 3 Rule 15 (1) of the Court of Appeal Rule by holding that “the object of the rule is to give an appellant before the hearing of his appeal notice and grounds of any preliminary objection to the hearing of the appeal in order to enable him meet the objection. The rule is a safeguard against embarrassing an appellant and taking him by surprise.”
The central issue in the respondent’s objection is that in accordance with Islamic Law, the appellants and the respondent fall within the class of heirs referred to in Islamic Law as Dhul Arham meaning distant kindred and that being the position, they lack the locus standi to sue and be sued respectively on the estate of Tukur. Particularly when it is not certain whether as at the time the suit was initiated, the legally recognized heirs of Tukur – Aminat, Abdulsalami, Saratu. Aisha and Salamat were alive or not. Dhul Arham includes distant kindred, sons of daughter, maternal and close relations. Their right to share out of the estate is considered when the residuaries and heirs are not available. The contention of the appellants is that the issue is of jurisdictional competence and it cannot be raised in vaccuo without cogent evidence in support. Furthermore, as the issue was raised before the Court of Appeal for the first time, the leave of that court must first be sought and granted. The respondent failed to obtain the requisite leave of the court below.
Locus standi is the legal capacity to institute an action in a court of law.
Where a plaintiff is held to lack the locus standi to maintain an action, the finding goes to the issue of jurisdiction – as it denies the court jurisdiction to determine the action. Jurisdiction is in other words, a radical question of competence – a court can only be competent when the case comes by due process of law and upon fulfillment of any condition precedent to the exercise of jurisdiction. Madukolu v. Nkemdilim (1962) 2 SCNLR pg. 342 Oloriode v. Oyebi (1984) 1 SCNLR pg. 390
Anambra State v. A-G Federatlon (1993) 6 NWLR (pt.302) pg.692
Thomas v. Olufusoye (1986) 1 NWLR (pt.18) pg.669
A-G Lagos State v. Dosunmu (1989) 3 NWLR (pt.111) pg.552
Generally speaking, a fresh issue cannot be raised on appeal without leave of that court sought and obtained. An exception to this general rule is where the issue raised is that of jurisdiction. An issue of jurisdiction being fundamental to the case does not require leave to be raised. Furthermore, it can be raised at any stage of the proceedings. The respondent in the instant appeal did not require leave to raise the issue of locus in the preliminary objection filed afresh and argued before the court below.
Oshatoba v. Olujitan (2000) 5 NWLR (pt. 655) pg. 159
Fadiora v. Gbadebo (1978) 3 SC 219
Beecham Group v. Essdee Foods Ltd. (1985) 3 NWH. (pt.11) pg.112
Odemilekun v. Hassan (1997) 12 NWLR (pt.531) pg.56
On the issue of the locus of both parties to institute this action, it is not in dispute that the appellants are great grandsons of late Tukur whose estate is subject to litigation and the respondents are his great great grandsons. The original parties in the suit are no longer alive. The original parties were offspring of the direct children of Tukur. It is apparent from the record that Tukur and all his direct descendants are no longer alive. They were not even alive at the time of the commencement of this suit in 1994, as a result of which there was no direct descendant of Tukur to initiate the suit: for the distribution of his estate. As at the time the Court of Appeal struck out this appeal there was all order of retrial made by the Shariah Court or Appeal on the Upper Area Court to determine when Tukur and some of his heirs, Saratu and Abdulsalami died. The appellants before this court are the grandsons of Saratu while the respondent is the great great grandson of Abdulsalami.
The lower court referred to the category of heirs mentioned in the book, Muslim Family Law of Nigeria at pg.284 that: –
“The right of Dhul Arham that is maternal and close relations to the deceased to share out of the estate is considered when the first two categories are not available, residuaries and heirs.”
Further in the principle of Islam – a relative of the second grade e.g. a grandparent of the deceased does not inherit if there is among the survivors another relative or the first grade, such as a parent, nor does a grandchild inherit with son. When in this circumstance, all the original parties are dead and the issue of the distribution of the estate is yet to be settled, the present parties who came into the matter by way of substitution granted by court must continue to keep the suit alive.
In the prevailing circumstance of this case, it is apparent that the original suit is no longer alive. The court had ordered a re-trial twice all over and in the last one gave specific guidelines as to what the trial court must investigate. It will therefore be inequitable if the present parties abandon the current suit to commence this suit de novo as suggested by the lower court.
In sum, this appeal has merit and it is allowed. The order of the court striking out the appeal is set aside. The appeal is to be determined on its merit. No order as to costs.
SC.30/2005