RITA NOSAKHARE PEMU, JCA (Delivering the Leading Judgment): This is an appeal against the decision of Hon. Justice Okechukwu Okeke of the Federal High Court of Lagos, delivered on the 27th day of July, 2009, wherein he declined jurisdiction, in respect of the Appellants' claims, on the ground that the proper venue is the Lagos High Court, and not the Federal High Court, consequently referring the suit to the Lagos High Court for further hearing of the matter.
Before now, this matter had experienced a chequered history, as the suit in respect of it was originally commenced in 1992, by Writ of Summons No. LD/1827/92 before Honourable Justice A.R. Sahid of the Lagos High Court, on behalf of the retrenched staff of the Nigerian Ports Authority in June 1991, against the Respondent - Nigerian Ports Authority.
The learned trial Judge on the 12th of July, 1996, entered judgment in favour of the Appellants against the Respondent.
The Respondent appealed the decision, and same was dismissed on …