PETER OLABISI IGE, J.C.A. (Delivering the Lead Ruling): On 30th day of July, 1998 the Respondents to the appeal herein instituted this action against the Appellant at Port Harcourt Division of the Federal High Court claiming as follows:
?N15,000,000.00 (Fifteen Million Naira) special and general damages for the negligence of the Defendant on the fire outbreak of March 1998 at the Nde Ogwuma Oil well of the Defendant, situate at Oguta L.G.A, Imo State.?
The matter suffered transfers from Port Harcourt Division of the said Court to Umuahia Division and eventually to Owerri Division of the Federal High Court on 27th October 2010 where the suit was given a new number FHC/OW/CS/10/2011.
At the end of trial in the suit judgment was delivered on 27th day of June 2014 by Honourable Justice F. A. Olubanjo who held:
?Indeed, upon a critical examination and consideration of the evidence placed before me, I am of the view that 16 years after the fire incident caused by the Defendant?s negligence occu…