<p><br></p><p><strong>OGUNTADE, J.S.C. (Delivering the Leading Judgment): </strong>The appellants were the plaintiffs at the Minna High Court of Niger State, where as the representatives of the Dere and Eshi communities, they claimed against the respondents and the representatives of the Ebwa community, for the following reliefs:</p><p> &quot;(a) A court declaration that the Dere community is at all material times hereto the lawful occupier/possessor of ALL THAT piece or parcel of vast land lying, being and situate at Dere/her immediate environs and its adjoining waters/fish-ponds known as Epemi-Dere (Egbokongbo)/Emmatsa-Aba and is therefore entitled to customary right of occupancy thereto;</p><p> (b) A court declaration that the Eshi community is at all material times hereto the lawful occupier/possessor of ALL THAT piece or parcel of vast land lying, being and situate at Eshi/her immediate environs and its adjoining waters/fish-ponds known as Emmatsa and Ebora, and is therefore entitled to customary right of occupancy thereto;</p><p> (c) …</p>