OBIETONBARA DANIEL-KALIO, J.C.A (Delivering the Leading Judgment): This appeal is in respect of a dispute over a contract of employment. The legal battle between the parties began at the Otta Division of the High Court of Ogun State in suit No.HCT/16/97. After due consideration of the matter, the trial Judge delivered his judgment on the 21st day of July, 2003.
Both parties in the case were dissatisfied with the judgment and consequently both appealed to this court.
The first party to file a Notice of Appeal was the defendants in the lower court. They filed their Notice of Appeal in August, 2003, and they will hereinafter be called the Appellants in this judgment. The Plaintiff in the lower court, who will hereinafter be called the Cross-Appellant, filed his Notice of Appeal on the 15th of September, 2003.
The case of the parties at the trial court can be summarised as follows:
The Cross-Appellant (the plaintiff in the court below) was employed by the 1st appellant (1st defendant in …