ANIETIE PETER ETIM & ORS V. EDET EFFIONG UMOH & ANOR

CHIMA CENTUS NWEZE, J.C.A. (Delivering the Leading Judgment): At the High Court of Akwa Ibom State, Uyo Judicial Division, the first respondent in this appeal [as plaintiff] claimed declaratory; injunctive and monetary reliefs against the second respondent in this appeal [who was then the first defendant] and the appellants herein [who were the second; third and fourth defendants, respectively]. The plaintiff settled, filed and served his Statement of Claim on the defendants.

The appellants herein [as second, third and fourth defendants] filed a joint Statement of Defence. They, equally, front loaded other processes which they intended to rely upon at the trial. The first respondent herein [as plaintiff] filed a Reply to the Joint Statement of Defence. The matter went on trial. The first respondent in this appeal [as plaintiff] called three witnesses in proof of his case. He was the PW1. The other witnesses were Chief Linus Etim Essien and Edet Charles Ebong, PW2 and PW3, respectively…