AKPIROROH, JCA (Delivering the Lead Judgment): This is an appeal against the decision of Rivers State High Court No. 14 sitting at Port Harcourt delivered on the 25th day of June, 1998 in suit No. PHC/1801/97.
The plaintiffs who are the respondents in this appeal claimed from the defendant (appellant) in this appeal the following reliefs:-
“1. The sum of N596,546,000.00 (five hundred and ninety six thousand naira) being and representing a fair, reasonable and adequate compensation payable by the defendant to the plaintiffs, for themselves and on behalf of their families for damages caused to their crops, economic trees domestic animals etc. and deprivation of the use of the plaintiffs’ farmlands of about 538.97 hectares at Oboburu as a result of the spillage of crude oil from defendant’s oil Well OB26 on 31st December, 1996 caused by the defendant. 2. AN ORDER of court compelling the defendant to rehabilitate the plaintiffs’ farmlan d at O boburu in lin e with the recommendations as c…