OLABODE RHODES-VIVOUR, JSC (Delivering the Leading Judgment): The Respondent as Plaintiff sued the Appellants as defendants on a Writ of Summons and Statement of claim which reads:
"The Plaintiff claims against the Defendants jointly, severally or in the alternative as follows:
1. The sum of ₦10,000,000.00 (Ten Million Naira) being the sum for unlawful arrest, unlawful/wrongful detention, Malicious prosecution and abuse of Legal process.
2. And for such further orders the court deems fit to meet with the Justice in this case."
The Plaintiff filed a thirty-five paragraph statement of claim on the 10th day of February 1997.
The Appellants i.e. the 1st and 2nd Defendants filed a 4 paragraph statement of defence on the 5th day of March, 1997.
The 3rd to 7th Appellants as the 3rd to 7th Defendants did not file a statement of defence.
At the trial which commenced on the 21st day of January, 1998 it was only the Respondent as Plaintiff who testified in support of his case. Documents were ad…