S. O. ONU, JSC (DELIVERING THE LEADING JUDGMENT): In the High Court of Borno State holden at Maiduguri in suit No. M.396/1989, the plaintiff, now the appellant (a legal practitioner by profession) claimed as per his paragraph 10 of the Statement of Claim against the defendant, the respondent herein, special and general damages suffered by him in an accident that involved his car with a third party's vehicle. This was stated to be as a result of the respondent's obstruction and diversion of the highway without putting up notice to the road users as follows:-
"10. Whereof the plaintiff claims from the defendant as follows:
(a) As special damages the sum of N35.050.00 being cost of the repairs paid by the plaintiff as a result of the accident as per Bill No. 000073 dated 24/11/89, issued to the plaintiff by Denjoe Panel Beating and Spraying Works for the sum of N14,600.00 (Fourteen thousand, Six hundred Naira), and Delivery Note No. 000068 dated 24/11/89 for the sum of N20,450.00 (Twenty…