CHINWE E. IYIZOBA, JCA (Delivering the Leading Judgment): This is an appeal against the rulings of Nnamani J. sitting at the Federal High court Osogbo Judicial Division dated 23/3/04. In their originating summons, the respondents sought the following reliefs from the lower court:-
1. A declaration that the defendants cannot compel the plaintiffs who are not distributors of video works but shop owners who sell video cassettes to end users (alongside other types of cassettes e.g Audio or CD or VCD) to register with the defendants for a fee of ₦5000.00 (five thousand naira) or for any amount howsoever.
2. A declaration that the arrest of some of the plaintiffs through the complaint of the defendant or the seizure of the plaintiffs' goods is ultra vires wrongful and not in consonance with the Film and Video Censors Board Decree 1993.
3. An order compelling the defendants to refund any such money collected from the plaintiffs as registration or licensing fee.
The defendants/appellants' rea…