By Ghazali Ibrahim
The Supreme Court of Nigeria has imposed a N50 million personal fine on lawyer S.M. Danyaro and barred him from appearing before any court in the country until he complies with the order, following what it described as a gross abuse of court process.
In a ruling delivered on June 22, 2026, Justice Chioma Egondu Nwosu-Iheme condemned an application filed by Danyaro after the conclusion of a substantive appeal, describing it as one of the most irresponsible applications ever brought before the apex court.
The ruling was signed by Justice Chioma Egondu Nwosu-Iheme and issued as a Certified True Copy by the Supreme Court Registrar.
The court dismissed the application in its entirety and ordered the lawyer to personally pay N50 million in costs to the respondents within 90 days.
It also directed him to file a certificate of compliance before he can regain the right of audience in Nigerian courts.
Justice Nwosu-Iheme, concurring with the lead ruling of Justice Jamilu Yammama Tukur, said the application amounted to professional misconduct and was merely an attempt by the lawyer to express dissatisfaction with the outcome of an appeal decided on June 4, 2025.
The justice described the filing as “thoughtless,” “juvenile,” and a “gross abuse” of the Supreme Court’s process, accusing the lawyer of exposing his ignorance of the law and bringing ridicule upon himself.
“He is not worthy to be called a Legal Practitioner,” the justice stated in one of the strongest judicial rebukes seen in recent years.
The court further affirmed that its judgment in Appeal No. SC.266/2017, delivered on June 4, 2025, remains valid, final and binding on all parties.
As part of the sanctions, the Supreme Court ordered that Danyaro shall cease to have the right of audience in any court in Nigeria until he complies with the court’s directives and provides proof of compliance in line with the court’s rules.
