DAVID AYHOK INSAP AYHOK V. PLATEAU PUBLISHING CORPORATION COMMISSIONER OF POLICE, PLATEAU STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL, PLATEAU STATE

HABEEB ADEWALE OLUMUYIWA ABIRU, J.C.A. (Delivering the Leading Judgment): This appeal is against the judgment of the High Court of Plateau State delivered in Suit No PLD/J385/2016 by Honorable Justice D. D. Longji on the 17th of December, 2018. The Appellants were the claimants in the lower Court and their claims against the Respondents were for:

i. A declaration that the Appellants were at the time material to this suit, customary owners of the land in dispute which is situate in the West of Agingi Market, Kisaloi Village in Buhit District in Bassa LGA of Plateau State.

ii. A declaration that the first Respondent never bought or any howsoever acquired interest in the land in dispute.

iii. An order of perpetual injunction restraining the second Respondent from harassing, intimidating, arresting or detaining the Appellants or any person on the land in dispute by reason of the complaint of the first Respondent.

The case of the Appellants on the pleadings was that the land in dispute was fir…