IFADA GEORGE IBHALUM V. OKAFOR EDWARD CHIDOZIE & 3 ORS

JAMILU YAMMAMA TUKUR, J.S.C. (Delivering the Lead Judgment):

INTRODUCTION

This is an appeal against the judgment of the lower Court delivered on 9th day of July, 2015 in Appeal No. CA/A/534/2010 which set aside the judgment delivered by the FCT High Court on 12th October 2009 in Suit No. FCT/HC/CV/70/07 in favour of the Appellant.

The facts of the case, briefly stated, are that sometime in 2005, the Federal Government of Nigeria advertised for the sale of certain government houses in Abuja to civil servants. Both the appellant and the 1st respondent were successful in the bidding exercise. A letter of offer was first issued to the appellant on 30/10/2005, which he accepted and paid for in full. However, sometime in June 2006, another letter of offer was issued to the 1st respondent. The appellant’s offer was subsequently withdrawn on 9/12/2005 upon the realisation that both the appellant and the 1st respondent had expressed interest in purchasing the same property, and that the 1st resp…