MOHAMMED LAWAL GARBA, J.C.A. (Delivering the Leading Judgment): The Appellants, former employees of the Respondent, were disengaged from the employment of the Respondent on the 24th May, 2004 based on a collective agreement of 13th January, 2000. Dissatisfied with the amounts for retirement and redundancy benefits paid to them for the disengagement, the Appellants sued the Respondent before the National Industrial Court (NIC) in Suit No. NIC/8/2008 and in the statement of facts of their complaint dated 18th February, 2008, they claimed the following reliefs:
"i. A declaration that the purported management/union agreement dated the 25th day of May 2004 is null and void and therefore not binding on the claimants having been fraudulently executed, malafide and without regard to due process.
ii. A declaration that the purported agreement dated 25th day of May 2004 is not binding on the claimants, same having been executed without the consent and input of the affected employees and at the s…