GALADIMA, J.C.A. (Delivering the Leading Judgment): This is an appeal against the judgment of Hon. Justice Ichendu (as he then was) dismissing the action of the plaintiffs, now the appellants herein.
The plaintiffs sued, inter alia, for a declaration that the defendants, now the respondents herein, are not chiefs of Rumueme community and therefore have no mandate to represent the said Rumueme Community at any level of responsibility and for injunction restraining the said defendants from holding themselves out as such.
The plaintiffs' case at the trial court is set out in their 27 paragraphs further amended statement of claim dated 23rd September, 1996 on pages 169-173 of the record of this appeal. The defendants who were represented by two different counsels separately filed statement of defence. The 1st - 7th and 9th - 12th defendants filed 27 paragraphed statement of defence on pages 116 - 122 of the record while the 8th defendant filed a 21 paragraphed statement of defence on page…