AMINA ADAMU AUGIE, J.C.A. (Delivering the Leading Judgment): This Appeal has to do with a Fishing Trawler known as "BAY FISHER 1" that was registered under the 1st Respondent's name. It was later re-registered under the name of the 1st Appellant, and became known as "OMOSEDE 1". The 2nd and 3rd Respondents are the children of the late Stephen Oreofe Aruwayo-Authority, who was one of the proprietors of the 1st Respondent, and they filed a civil suit at the Federal High Court, wherein they alleged that after their father's death, the Fishing Trawler was stolen from where it was berthed at their father's Boat bay at Aiyetoro, Ilaje LGA in Ondo State, and they reported to the Police at the State C.I.D, Akure, Ondo State in 1997. They also reported the matter to the Police at Zone 2, Onikan, Lagos, in February 1998, and to the Government Inspector of Shipping and Registrar of Ships at Apapa, Lagos, in case of any attempt to re-register the vessel.
They later heard that the said vessel was…