Ratio Decidendi

Per Tabai, JSC, in Akinyemi v. Soyanwo & Anor (2006) NLC-123-51-2001(SC) at p. 11; Paras B–C:

"It is a settled principle of law that every party to a suit, and indeed every citizen, has an obligation to obey the subsisting Court decision or order in the suit unless and until it is set aside. And the party's obligation to obey the decision is without regard to his perception about the irregularity or illegality of the decision as long as it subsists."

Explanation / Scope

All parties must obey subsisting court orders regardless of their belief about irregularity. Disobedience is not justified by perceived invalidity. The principle applies to civil procedure.

Cases Applying This Principle