TUNDE OYEBANJI AWOTOYE, JCA (Delivering the Leading Judgment): This is the judgment in respect of the appeal filed by the Appellants against the decision of Federal High Court Owerri Division delivered on 11/6/2012.
The Appellants were the Claimants at the Federal High Court. Their claim against the Defendant (now Respondent) can be gathered from paragraphs 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 17, 18 and 19 of their statement of claim which read as follows:
2. Plaintiffs are predominantly farmers having crop farms economic trees, fish farms, streams, sacred grounds/objects, market stall/sheds, Community square/hall, play ground, flowers and tourist centres all of which they jointly own, use and enjoy. Plaintiffs farmland is over 1000000 Hectares.
3. The defendant is a company registered in Nigeria and carries on Oil mineral and gas exploration and exploitation activities in the States of the Federation including Imo State.
4. The Defendant owns an oil location called IHUOMA B LOCATION RIG…