I. T. MUHAMMAD, JCA (Delivering the Leading Judgment): This appeal emanated from the decision of the Federal High Court Abuja (lower court), in which the court in its ruling of 25th February, 2002, dismissed the appellant's application which challenged its jurisdiction to hear and determine the respondent's suit. The background facts of this appeal are, briefly put, as follows: The respondent herein, as plaintiff, instituted action by originating summons before the lower court seeking for the following orders:
"(i) An order granting SAP leave to apply for an order of mandamus compelling the Central Bank of Nigeria - "CBN" - to complete the evaluation of the bidding process in respect IFB No. CBN/EAGLES/IFB/001-
"Invitation for bids for the supply and implementation of Enterprise Resource Planning System" - for which the plaintiff/applicant herein was a bidder by publicly declaring the results of the evaluation of the bidding process for:
(a) The technical evaluation of the bids submit…