Ratio Decidendi

Per Mahmud Mohammed, JSC, in Xtoudos Services Nigeria Limited & Anor v. Taisei (W.A.) Limited & Anor (2006) NLC-123-401-2001(SC) at pp. 14–15; Paras D–A:

"Where a Plaintiff woefully fails to prove his case, the proper order the law requires the Court to make is that of dismissal of the Plaintiff's case. Although where a trial Court or a Court below fails to make findings on the issues duly joined by the parties in their pleadings and submitted for adjudication, an appellate Court will order a retrial when the evidence on record is such that it cannot make its own findings not having seen or heard the witnesses, an order of retrial is not appropriate where a Plaintiff failed completely to prove his case and no irregularity of substantial nature apparent on the record to justify the making of such order."

Explanation / Scope

Retrial is inappropriate where the plaintiff completely failed to prove his case and no substantial irregularity exists. The principle applies to appellate practice.

Cases Applying This Principle