OGUNBIYI JSC (Delivering the Lead Judgment): This is an appeal A from the decision of the Court of Appeal, Benin Division, delivered on 29 June 2004 which allowed the appeal of the respondent solely on the issue of jurisdiction and struck out the appellant’s claims. The appellant was the plaintiff in the trial court while the respondent was the defendant. The respondent is a limited liability company, one of the subsidiary companies owned by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), a Federal Government owned corporation established by the NNPC Act, Cap. 320, Laws of Federation, 1990. The appellant at all material times is a staff of the respondent at Ekpan, Warri before the events leading to this suit.
The plaintiff by writ of summons dated and filed on 24 March 1994 as reflected in paragraph 18 of the statement of claim dated 20 April 1994, but filed on 21April 1994 claimed among others, the following reliefs:
An order that the plaintiff is a staff of the defendant.
A decla…