IGUH, J.S.C. (Delivering the Leading Judgment): In the High Court of former Anambra State of Nigeria, the plaintiffs, who are now the respondents, for themselves and on behalf of the members of Uhudike family instituted an action against the appellants, who therein were the defendants, for themselves and on behalf of the members of Ezeanya family claiming jointly and severally as follows-
"1. A declaration that the plaintiffs are the owners of the piece and parcel of land otherwise known as and called "Ana Okenwe" situate at Nnokwa, the annual value of which is ten pounds.
2. An order of the court for the plaintiffs to redeem the said land from the defendants .
3. Possession of the said land."
Pleadings were ordered in the suit and were duly settled, filed and exchanged. The case accordingly proceeded to trial and the parties testified on their own behalf and called witnesses.
It is, perhaps, convenient at this stage to set out briefly the back-ground facts to the dispute between the …