APPELLATE PRACTICE — Notice of Appeal — No Valid Ground — Effect
Ratio Decidendi
Per Onnoghen, JSC, in Co-operative and Commerce Bank Plc & Anor v. Ekperi (2007) NLC-123-68-2002(SC) at pp. 12–13; Paras D–B:
"A Notice of Appeal filed within time but without any ground or valid ground of appeal is a worthless piece of paper being grossly incompetent and liable to be struck out."
Explanation / Scope
A notice of appeal must contain at least one valid ground of appeal. Without a valid ground, the notice is incompetent, regardless of whether it was filed within time. The court will strike it out. This ensures that appeals are based on legitimate grievances against the decision below and not mere frivolous filings.