A. I. IGUH, JSC (Delivering the Leading Judgment): By a writ of summons issued on the 21st day of January, 1992 in the Lagos Judicial Division of the Federal High Court of Nigeria, the plaintiff instituted an action against the defendants jointly and severally claiming as follows:-
"The plaintiff's claim against the defendants jointly and severally is for the sum of ₦200,000.00 being special and general damages for conversion of the plaintiff's 505 Peugeot saloon car which was delivered to the defendants for shipment from Germany to Lagos on board the Vessel "SAINT ROLAND"
AND/OR
The sum of ₦200,000.00 from the defendants jointly and severally for negligence resulting in the loss of the plaintiff's 505 Peugeot saloon car which was given to the defendants for shipment from Germany to Lagos on board the Vessel "SAINT ROLAND".
Upon an application ex-parte filed on the same 21st January, 1992 by the plaintiff, Kassim J. on the 22nd January, 1992 ordered the immediate arrest and detentio…