OGUNTADE, JCA (Delivering the Lead Judgment): The respondents were the plaintiff’s in Suit No. ID/795/88 out of which this appeal arose. They sued for themselves and on behalf of other members of the Shangisha Landlords Association, claiming from the appellants, as defendants, the following reliefs:
“An order that all the members of Shangisha Landlords Association whose lands and/or buildings at Shangisha village were demolished by the Lagos State Government and/or its servants or agents during the period of June 1984 to May, 1985 are entitled to first choice preferential treatment and should be re-allocated their respective plots by the defendants as agreed in the meeting held on the 16th day of October, 1984 with the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Development Matters.”
The plaintiffs filed a 43-paragraph statement of claim on 28/10/95. The 1st to 4th defendants filed a joint statement of defence to which the plaintiffs filed an amended reply. The 5th defendant/appellant was joined t…