ADEKEYE JSC(Delivering the Lead Judgment): This appeal is against the judgment of the Court of Appeal, Port Harcourt Division delivered on 31 October 2001. The judgment of the Court of Appeal upheld that of the A High Court of Rivers State which dismissed the claim of the plaintiffs before the court in its entirety. This appeal by the appellants before the court is designed to set aside the concurrent judgments of the court below and the trial court. The plaintiffs/appellants maintained the action in a representative capacity on behalf of themselves and the Umunwangwo family of Kreigani Village in Ogba/Egbema District of Ahoada Local GovernmentArea against the defendants/respondents who also defended the suit in a representative capacity for themselves and on behalf of theAlinso-Okanu family of Kreigani in Ogba/Egbema District.
The claim of the plaintiffs/appellants as pleaded in paragraph 26 of the further amended statement of claim, page 31 of the record of appeal reads as follows:…