NIGERIAN JOINT AGENCY LTD.
V.
ARROW ENGINEERING AND GENERAL TRANSPORT COMPANY LTD.

MADARIKAN, J.S.C. (Delivering the Leading Judgment): The present appellants were the plaintiffs in the Lagos High Court where they had instituted an action (Suit No. LD.663/68) against the defendants, now respondents, claiming possession of the warehouse and office premises situate at No. 52 Warehouse Road, Apapa (hereinafter referred to as the premises), and mesne profits at the rate of (pound)83-6s-8d per month from the 1st of June, 1967, until possession is given up.

The salient facts relied upon by the parties and accepted by the learned trial judge were not in dispute at the trial.

They may be summarised thus:-

(1) The defendants became the tenants of the plaintiffs in respect of the premises for a term of 3 years commencing from the 1st of June, 1964 "with a mutual option to renew for a further period" at an annual rent of (pounds)1,000 payable in advance.

(2) The terms of the tenancy were set out in letters exchanged between the parties. The letters were admitted in evidence at…