FABUNMI
V.
AJAYI

AUGIE JCA (Delivering the Lead Judgment): The appellant, who is a legal practitioner, was contracted by the respondents, a medical doctor and his wife, to search and negotiate for a building for use as a hospital. He was able to secure one at No. 5, Bankole Crescent, Housing Estate, Ibara, Abeokuta, for the sum of N3,250,000.00 (three million, two hundred and fifty thousand naira only). After paying for it, the appellant prepared the transfer of ownership agreement, collected the title deeds and passed them A on to the respondents. When he served them with his professional bill, the respondents paid a part of it and despite several demands, refused to pay the balance, whereupon the appellant filed an action at the Abeokuta High Court, wherein he claimed - “The sum of N275,000.00 (two hundred and seventy-five thousand naira) being the amount of indebtedness of the defendants to the plaintiff, as the plaintiff professional fees for professional services rendered to the defendants in a…