₦airaland Forum

The President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Afam Osigwe, has urged courts to avoid the use of complex phrases in their rulings, calling instead for clear and unambiguous orders to prevent confusion and misinterpretation.

Osigwe made the call during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today programme on Friday, where he expressed concern over the growing ambiguity in judicial pronouncements, particularly in politically sensitive cases.

“I think, considering the confusion that is arising in our body polity in recent times, our courts should not make orders using such Latin maxims like status quo ante bellum or pendente lite.

“The court should make clear orders as to what it means so that there is no ambiguity. It (status quo ante bellum) creates confusion. We have rendered it almost meaningless.

“It has been stripped of any clear meaning, so our courts should avoid using such phrases and instead specify what orders they are making so that nobody will be left in doubt, and no administrative body will have to interpret it and try to give its own decision on it,” he stated.

Status quo ante bellum is a Latin phrase that means the situation as it existed before the war.

The NBA president further stated that vague court orders often led to multiple interpretations, with different parties claiming victory.

“I see situations where people go away rejoicing that the order was in their favour, thereby giving room for mischief or for anybody to interpret it the way they want.

“Where a court has chosen to make an order, it should state clearly what it has set out to do and not hide behind any Latin maxims,” Osigwe added.

According to him, while such legal expressions may not pose challenges in other jurisdictions, Nigeria’s peculiar environment makes their use confusing.

His remarks came amid controversy surrounding the interpretation of a Court of Appeal ruling involving a leadership crisis in the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

The court directed the parties to maintain the status quo ante bellum, but its interpretation sparked a dispute between the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and party factions.

INEC delisted the David Mark-national working committee from its portal, but the Mark faction rejected the decision, insisting its leadership represents the last legitimate structure.

The disagreement also led to protests by the factions at the INEC headquarters in Abuja.

In a separate demonstration on Thursday, another group leader of the party, Nafiu Gombe, also staged a protest at the commission’s office, demanding recognition as the authentic ADC national chairman

Gerhards:
I started paying attention to Nigeria politics from 2023 and I noticed they usually use those phrases in court mostly during political cases and I think they are doing it intentional to create confusion among the people, then carried out their evil corrupt judgment's .

ChizzyBuna:
Judiciary wey dey Wike back pocket

Omik1:
But all the parties to the cases have Lawyers and some SANs representing them, whose major responsibilities include letting their clients know what's in the judgement.. Abi why should an uneducated parent send their child to school if not to make bring education closer to them.

Gerhards:
I started paying attention to Nigeria politics from 2023 and I noticed they usually use those phrases in court mostly during political cases and I think they are doing it intentional to create confusion among the people, then carried out their evil corrupt judgment's .

LibertyRep:
I don't know why such decisions could not be communicated in a clear an unambiguous term.

I feel court orders should not be left to individual translations.

What's our own with Latin self.

Bobloco:
Status Quo Ante Bellum: Courts Should Avoid Using Such Phrases, Make Clear Orders — Osigwe




https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.channelstv.com/2026/04/10/status-quo-ante-bellum-courts-should-avoid-using-such-phrases-make-clear-orders-osigwe/amp/

Omik1:
But all the parties to the cases have Lawyers and some SANs representing them, whose major responsibilities include letting their clients know what's in the judgement.. Abi why should an uneducated parent send their child to school if not to make bring education closer to them.

Gerhards:
I started paying attention to Nigeria politics from 2023 and I noticed they usually use those phrases in court mostly during political cases and I think they are doing it intentional to create confusion among the people, then carried out their evil corrupt judgment's .

Racoon:
Sorry Oga! The NBA is just a useless body while the judiciary is a loss cause under your leadership. Gone are the NBA days of Alao-Aka Bashorun and the dreaded supreme court days of Justice Alfa Belgore, Nikky Tobi, Chukwudifu Oputa etc.

Bobloco:
Status Quo Ante Bellum: Courts Should Avoid Using Such Phrases, Make Clear Orders — Osigwe




https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.channelstv.com/2026/04/10/status-quo-ante-bellum-courts-should-avoid-using-such-phrases-make-clear-orders-osigwe/amp/

professorPABX:
Alao Aka Bashorun wouldn't have had problem with Status quo ante bellum meaning. There was no dreaded Supreme Court in the Military era and at anytime. Rule of Law is Rule of Law anytime, anywhere. If you are referring to High Court when Justice Belgore (I don't know which of the Belgore's) had issues with Musa Bamaiyi a General (NDLEA Chairman) and insisted Rule of Law must be obeyed, then you didn't know what transpired. It was because he was satisfying ABACHA's expectations in other areas, otherwise, he wouldn't be allowed to harass a General because of people with Drug money. Justice Belgore that insisted Gen Musa Bamaiyi must obey the rule of Law must have insisted David Mark and ATIKU obey the Rule of Law.

As I said earlier today in a thread, NBA, NJI and all the bodies of the Judiciary know that INEC acted to protect the Integrity of the Judiciary. Falana's only contrary opinion is that electoral act bans Court from entertaining intra party issues. Falana cannot condemn a professor of Law and a Senior Advocate of Nigeria from obeying Court Order . No SAN or Judge had criticized INEC for acting to protect the integrity of the Judiciary.

Professor of Law and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, he PRACTICES what he TEACHES. The INTEGRITY of the JUDICIARY must be PROTECTED at all cost. Emotions and Blackmail cannot change the cost and course of Justice. NBA, NJI and all the Judicial bodies know that integrity of the Law and Judiciary must be protected. A SAN and a Professor of Law must respect the LAW . No emotions or Blackmail can change the Course of Justice.

Aminu Kano, Waziri Ibrahim, Zik, Awolowo, Fela Anikulapo Kuti, Tunji Braitwaite, BUHARI, Tinubu and others formed Political Parties. You cannot use money and power to buy an already existing Political Party and relegate founding members who have sacrificed greatly with their resources and time to the background. This is beyond intra party issue. This is INJUSTICE. The Court of Law must have a
look at the crying of the foundation members.

Daggash98:
How many cases has he won? He is just a political and feather weight SAN. Common interpretation, he fumbled.