A. G. IRIKEFE, J.S.C. (Delivering the Leading Judgment): The appellants were the plaintiffs in a suit before the Port Harcourt Judicial Division of the High Court of the Rivers State in which they claimed as follows:
"The plaintiffs claim from the defendants the sum of 233,828pounds (two hundred and thirty three thousand eight hundred and twenty eight pounds) being compensation and value of economic trees, ponds, lakes, fishing creeks and juju shrines damaged and lands deprived of the plaintiffs by the defendants as a result of the defendants' oil operation on plaintiffs' and at OBRIKOM VILLAGE in AHOADA DIVISION within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court".
Pleadings were ordered and duly delivered.
In their amended Statement of Claim, the appellants averred inter alia as follows:
1."The plaintiffs are members of Umuju Family of Obrikom Village in Ahoada Division and bring this action on the authority and approval of the members of the said family and with the leave of this Hono…