ISA AYO SALAMI, J. C. A. OFR (Delivering the Leading Judgment): The plaintiff instituted two separate actions against the defendants by, in respect of each suit, taking out a writ of summons and filing a statement of claim dated on the same day, 21st October 1993. The two suits LD/3200/93 and LD/3201/93 were subsequently consolidated in suit LD/3200/93 by an order of the trial court given on 10th October, 1994.
In the consolidated amended statement of claim dated 29th September, 1994 the plaintiff who incidentally is a legal practitioner claimed against the defendants for his professional fees in the trial court as follows-
"WHEREUPON the plaintiff claims:
1(a) The sum of 374, 175.54 (three Hundred and seventy-four thousand one hundred and seventy-five Naira fifty-four kobo in the paragraphs 1 (a) (i) - (v) herein; being the bill of cost for professional services rendered by the plaintiff to the 1st defendant at the 1st defendant's instructions (in respect of a N=3.6 million (three mi…