BIOBELE ABRAHAM GEORGEWILL, J.C.A. (Delivering the Leading Judgment): The Respondents are the Claimants before the Court below and by their Amended Writ of Summons and Statement of Claim filed on 27/7/2009 claimed the following reliefs against the Appellant, which is Defendant, to wit:
1. The sum of ₦624,887,005.00 only as special damages for the various fishing equipment, livestock and other valuable properties damages as a result of the spillage of crude oil from the defendants pipelines conveying crude oil from Escravos Terminal to its Berthing Operation Platform offshore and other oil facilities on 31/07/2004 and 30/09/2004 due to the negligence of the defendant and professional fees incurred due to the refusal of Defendant to compensate the Plaintiffs which led to this action.
2. The sum of ₦500,000,000.00 only as general and exemplary damages against the Defendant due to the oil spillage that impacted on the plaintiff, communities causing damages to the Plaintiffs' means of liveli…