PETER OLABISI IGE, J.C.A. (Delivering the Leading Judgment): This is an Appeal against the Ruling of Imo State High Court sitting at Oguta Judicial Division contained in the Ruling of Honourable Justice U. D. Ogwuruike delivered on 22nd day of July, 2003.
The Respondents had approached the said Court on 6th day of June, 2000, for the issuance of a Writ of Summons against the Appellant (at the Court below) wherein the Respondents claimed against the Appellant the following reliefs to wit:
"The Plaintiff claims against the defendant as follows:
(a) A Declaration that the token sum of ₦2,605.800.00 (Two Million Six Hundred and Five Thousand Eight Hundred Naira) paid by the defendant to the plaintiffs in 1996 is compensation or the economic crops and trees belong to the plaintiffs which were destroyed by the defendant in the plaintiff's land which situate and lying at Umukene Ohaji in the Ohaji/Egbema Local Government Area of Imo State, measuring approximately 50 (fifty) hectares and not …