LEGAL PRINCIPLE: CIVIL PROCEDURE — Principle Against Depriving Successful Litigant of Fruits of Judgment
PRINCIPLE STATEMENT
The courts will not permit the judicial process to be used to frustrate a successful litigant from enjoying the fruits of their victory, particularly after exhausting all appellate remedies up to the Supreme Court.
RATIO DECIDENDI (SOURCE)
Per Ogundare, JSC, in African Continental Bank Plc v. Obmiami Brick & Stone (Nig.) Ltd. (1993) NLC-2251992(SC) at p. 14; Paras B–C:
"To grant the prayer (1) sought is to allow the applicant to use the judicial process to frustrate the respondent, a successful party, in the enjoyment of its victory achieved after climbing the judicial ladder to the highest court. This Court will not allow that to happen."
EXPLANATION / SCOPE
This principle protects the integrity of the judicial system and ensures that litigation reaches meaningful conclusions. It recognizes that successful parties are entitled to the practical benefits of favorable judgments without indefinite delay or obstruction. The principle is particularly stringent where the successful party has prevailed through multiple levels of appellate review, demonstrating the merit of their claim. Courts will scrutinize applications that appear designed to deny successful litigants their rightful remedies and will refuse orders that would effectively nullify hard-won victories through procedural manipulation.