How to Move a Motion in Court – All the details

Knowing how to move a Motion in court is fundamental for any lawyer in Nigeria. Moving a Motion in a Nigeria court can seem quite easy.

However, for the new wigs and sometimes the old-timers in the legal profession, this is no small task. I have had some terrible experiences with this, hence my eagerness to make sure no new law kiddo or experienced lawyer faces such an embarrassing moment in court.

Every Lawyer in Nigeria must know how to move a Motion in court. There is no way to avoid it in court.

Things to Consider before knowing how to move a motion in Court

• Self-esteem: work on your self-esteem. You are a lawyer like any other lawyer in court. You have the same right to represent any client in court as any Senior Advocate of Nigeria or Queen’s Counsel (Equivalent of Senior Advocate in England).
• Boldness: A lawyer must be bold or be able to fake his boldness. Honestly, boldness in court comes gradually as you progress in the profession. Work on your boldness.
• Be prepared: Even though a case is slated for motion or application, the Judge might want to ask you one or two things about the issue. Secondly, depending on the type of application a lawyer is asking for, some applications can be granted or refused immediately and the substantial case proceeded almost immediately.
• Forget bad experiences: learn to forgive yourself. Every lawyer just like you has had a fair share of their own bad experiences in court. Don’t dwell on previous negative experiences before going to court. Believe you can do it. Tell yourself you are better and stronger when you feel saddened by such thoughts.
• Master your case file: Unfortunately, most of the embarrassing moment lawyers face in court is caused because they are not fully abreast of the matter or case they intend to move such applications. Sometimes mere carelessness on the part of counsels can attract such embarrassing moments and sometimes this is a result of senior lawyers just throwing the case files on Junior lawyers on the very day of the application.

I will be writing a later post on mastering your case file in 15 minutes but for now, let’s focus on how to move a motion in court.

 SEE: Our video on how to move a motion in Court

Read and download the ALL LAWS OF THE FEDERATION OF NIGERIA APP LFN V.1

How to move a motion in Court Proper:

We assume that this is an application brought by way of a motion on notice. As the Claimant/Applicant’s counsel, you are appearing in court on the day slated for the hearing of the motion.  Take note that once your case is called, You have to rise and address the court.

ADDRESSING THE COURT

“May it please your Lordship, I am Okusare Joseph O., appearing for the Claimant/Applicant”.

(N.B: The Claimant/Applicant’s Counsel sits after announcing his appearance and the Defendant/Respondent’s counsel rises to announce his own appearance).

“My Lord, this case is slated for the hearing of all pending Applications and the Claimant/Applicant is ready to proceed with his case.”

“My Lord, before this honourable court is an application brought by way of Motion on notice, dated and filed on the 10th February 2019. The application is brought pursuant to Order.___ rule.___ (State the law for such prayers) of the Lagos State High Court (Civil Procedure) Rules, 2019 and under the inherent jurisdiction of this honourable court.”

“With the kind permission of your Lordship and subject to my Lord’s overriding convenience, we would proceed to move the application (The court nods or approves…)”.

“The said application prays the honourable court for an Interlocutory Injunction restraining the defendant, his privies, agents and servants from converting the 15 Vehicles pending the determination of the substantive suit and for such further order or orders that this honourable court may deem fit to make in this circumstance.

In compliance with the practice direction of this honourable court, the application is supported by a 16-paragraph Affidavit dated 10th February 2019 deposed to by one Mr Bright John. My Lord, we are placing heavy reliance on all the paragraphs of the said affidavit, particularly paras 5-11  and 14. The affidavit has 4 annexures to wit: 16 copies of the purchase receipts.

Furthermore, the application is supported by a written address dated 10th February 2019. We adopt the same as our argument to this application and urge the court to grant the said prayers of the Applicant as highlighted in the said motion paper”.

Adumbration if any: “By way of adumbration, the thrust of the application is whether the court can grant such an application. As has been succinctly dealt with in our Application, it is the argument of the Claimant/Applicant, that the court can grant such an application where… (Itemize). The Defendant in his counter affidavit has not raised material traverse and as such, we consider it unnecessary to file a further and better affidavit in opposition and we pray the court not to treat our hesitation as an admission of the fact deposed in the counter-affidavit (You don’t adumbrate in every situation).

I, therefore move the application as per the motion paper and urge the court to grant the application. We humbly submit”.

N.B: When you have a Reply to a Counter-Affidavit filed by the Respondent, You should let him argue their counter-Affidavit first before you take your reply address.

—updated 2023. 

Read and download the ALL LAWS OF THE FEDERATION OF NIGERIA APP LFN V.1

Author Bio:

Joseph Okusare Joci is a lawyer and a blogger. He loves to help lawyers achieve their full potentials. He is passionate about law, emerging technologies, media, marketing and info tech issues.