ABUBAKAR JEGA ABDUL-KADIR, J.C.A (Delivering the Leading Judgment): This appeal was brought to this Honourable Court vide Notice of Appeal dated 5/4/2006 and filed on 7/4/2006 pursuant to the order of this Honourable Court on 3rd April, 2006 granting the Appellants' application for extension of time to appeal against the judgment of the lower court as delivered by Hon. Justice C.O. Nweke of High Court of Justice Anambra State sitting at Onitsha on 7th April, 2004. The Notice of Appeal which gave life to the instant appeal is found at pages 217 to 226 of the record of appeal.
The historical background of this lingered litigation is briefly epitomized below.
The 1st set of Respondents in this appeal were the plaintiffs on record at the lower court. They commenced an action by civil summons on 9/12/83 at the Onitsha High Court of Justice against 2nd set of Respondents and the Appellants in this appeal. The Reliefs of the 1st set of Respondents sought against the Appellants and the 2nd se…