BODE RHODES-VIVOUR, J.S.C.(Delivering the Leading Judgment): The respondent as plaintiff took out an originating summons against the appellants, (the defendants) claiming the following reliefs:
1. A declaration that the President, Vice President or Officers in the Public Service at the Federation cannot grant any Oil Prospecting License (OPL) or any Oil Mining Lease (OML) or any interest whatsoever in respect of any Minerals, Minerals oils and natural gas in, under or upon the territorial waters and Exclusive Economic Zone of Nigeria to any person or persons except under and in accordance with the provisions of the Petroleum Act Cap. P.10 or the Laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, more particularly Section 2(1)(a)(b) and (c) as well as Section 2(3).
2. A declaration that by virtue of paragraph 8 of the first Schedule to the Petroleum Act, the first respondent cannot grant an Oil Mining Lease to any other person or persons except the holder of an Oil Prospecting Licence.
3. A declara…