ONYEKACHI AJA OTISI, J.C.A. (Delivering the Leading Judgment): This is an appeal by the Appellant against the ruling of the High Court of Bayelsa State, sitting in Yenagoa Judicial Division (the lower Court), delivered on 29/07/2020, coram LA. Uzukah, wherein the lower Court dismissed the suit of the Appellant, as claimant, for lack of jurisdiction to hear and determine same, the suit being adjudged to be statute-barred.
Background Facts
The facts leading to this appeal, as gleaned from the records, show that the Appellant commenced an action at the High Court of Bayelsa State on August 14, 2014 by way of a Writ of Summons, and Statement of Claim, accompanied by witness statements and documents to be relied upon at trial, seeking, inter alia, the sum of N104,355,421.86, alleged to be outstanding payments, and unreleased retention, as well as interest on the said sum at 20% per annum from 19/3/2009 until judgment; post-judgment interest at 10% per annum, and the cost of the action.
In res…