M. L. UWAIS, J.S.C. (Delivering the Leading Judgment): This is an appeal from the ruling and order given by the Court of Appeal at Enugu on 20th September, 1982 by which the appellant - a legal practitioner - was sentenced to 6 months imprisonment for being found guilty of committing contempt of Court.
The facts which led to the contempt are as follows: By a public notice published on 25th January 1973, in East Central State Gazette No.4 Volume 4, the former East Central State of Nigeria acquired, for public use, a parcel of land at Emene. Sometime later the sum of N658,000.00 as compensation payable to the owners of the land acquired was paid into the High Court at Enugu by the Government of Anambra State. On 7th June, 1978 the appellant took out a summons under the Public Lands Acquisition Law, Cap. 105 laws of Eastern Nigeria, 1963 on behalf of his clients, namely (1) Joseph Ede (2) Bernard Mba, (3) Vincent Aluma and (4) Geoffrey Nnaji who were suing as plaintiffs on behalf of the…