APPELLATE PRACTICE ā Appeal ā Affirming Decision on Different Grounds ā Correctness of Decision Paramount
Ratio Decidendi
Per Ogbuagu, JSC, in Integrated Timber and Plywood Products Ltd. v. Union Bank Nigeria Plc (2006) NLC-123-342-2001(SC) at p. 11; Paras DāE:
"It is now firmly settled that an Appellate Court, looks and bases its decision, at the correctness of the decision and not necessarily, at the reason for the decision. In other words, an Appellate Court will not set aside the decision of a lower court which is right and just, merely because the trial Judge or the court below, gave wrong reasons for the decision."
Explanation / Scope
An appellate court may affirm a correct decision even if based on wrong reasons. The principle applies to appellate practice.