TIJJANI ABDULLAHI, J.C.A. (Delivering the leading Judgment): This is an appeal against the decision of the High Court of Justice, Port Harcourt Judicial Division, Coram E. N. Ogbuji (j) delivered on the 27th day of September, 2004. The learned trial Judge on ground of jurisdiction struck out the suit of the Plaintiffs now Appellants contending that he lacked jurisdiction to hear and determine the issues in dispute between the parties.
The Appellants were the Plaintiffs in the Court below while the Respondent was the Defendant in that Court. By their statement of claim filed along with the writ of summons, the Plaintiffs/Appellants claimed as follows:
"WHEREOF the Plaintiffs claim possession of the piece/parcel of land measuring approximately 1.7 Hectares, situate, lying and being at Umuche, Omuordu, Egbeda in Emohua Local Government Area of Rivers State which was let by the Plaintiffs to the Defendant under a tenancy from year to year at the annual rental value as determined by the De…