GARBA JCA (Delivering the Lead Judgment): This appeal is against the judgment of the High Court of Rivers State sitting at Port Harcourt entered under the undefended list on 3 July 1998 pursuant to the provisions of Order 23, rules 1 and 4 of that Court’s Civil Procedure Rules, 1987. Before then, the respondent (as plaintiff) had taken out a writ of summons against the appellant (as defendant) which was later entered and heard under the undefended list with the following claims endorsed thereon:
“The sum of N1,188,054.00 (one million, one hundred and eighty-eight thousand, fifty-four naira) being the cost of items supplied to the defendant in Port Harcourt in this jurisdictionsometime in 1996 at the defendant’s request.
Interest at the rate of 21% per annum with effect from September 1996 until date of judgment. See pages 1-2 of the printed record of appeal.”
In addition to the above claims, the High Court (hereinafter to be named the court below) also granted costs assessed at N5,00…