MOJEED ADEKUNLE OWOADE, JCA (Delivering the Leading Judgment): This is an appeal from the judgment of S.N. Imo, Chief Judge of Abia State delivered on 10/10/07 in Umuahia in the Umuahia Judicial Division of the High Court of Abia State.
On 12th September, 2006, the plaintiffs by originating summons sued the defendants/respondents asking for the determination of four (4) questions and sought six (6) reliefs. Leave of the trial court was later sought and granted to amend the originating 'summons' earlier filed by the plaintiffs. The 1st appellant and Mrs. Ijeoma Onyekwere Ujoumunna were the plaintiffs in the lower court. Only the 1st appellant filed a Notice of Appeal to this court. The 2nd to the 147th appellants brought a motion to this court to be joined as interested parties and the order was so granted. Hence the present number of appellants. The questions for determination in the Amended Originating Summons were as follows:
"(a) Whether by the provisions of section 7 of the 1999 C…