IKYERNUM
V.
IORKUMBUR

MUHAMMAD, JCA (Delivering the Lead Judgment): The plaintiff at the court below, filed his Statement of Claim. He averred that he was a former resident in Ankpa Ward, Makurdi. He owned a parcel of land situate and identifiable in the same Ward. He alleged that sometime in the late 70’s, the husband of the defendant ran away from Makurdi and abandoned the defendant with no place to live. The defendant in 1977 contacted plaintiff and his late father to give her a piece of land to live for the time being. The plaintiff gave her a plot of land out of his vast land to reside for a period until her husband returned, but not exceeding 10 years. Defendant accepted the offer with the conditionality attached. Later, defendant’s husband came back and joined her on the said piece of land. At the expiration of the 10 years period i.e. in 1987, defendant and her husband pleaded for a grace period of 5 years. This was granted them. At the end of the grace period in 1992, plaintiff demanded the defe…