REV. EYO ETIM IKPANA V. THE REGISTERED TRUSTEES OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF NIGERIA REV. UMA ONWUNTA (PRINCIPAL CLERK AND CHAIRMAN OF B.C.M) REV. OBO DIEN (DEPUTY PRINCIPAL CLERK AND SECRETARY OF B.C.M.) REV. ITANG EDEM (MODERATOR, NORTH CALABAR PRESBYTERY) REV. ITA OKON REV. I. EKE

ADAMU JCA (Delivering the Lead Judgment): This appeal is against the ruling of Hon. Justice Philomena Ekpe J, sitting at the High Court of Justice of Cross River State, Calabar Judicial Division, delivered on 30/3/ 2000. The facts leading to the said ruling are as follows:

The plaintiff/appellant (hereinafter called “the appellant”) had been a religious minister in the presbyterian church of the defendants/respondents (also hereinafter called “the respondents”). As a result of a certain dispute affecting the leadership of the respondents’ church, the appellant was removed or deposed from or of his ministerial post by the respondents and he immediately instituted an action at the lowercourt challenginghis removal or deposition. Before the hearing of the action, the respondents through their counsel raised an objection against the competence of the appellant’s counsel, Mr. F. A. Esu to handle the case for the said appellant on the grounds that the said counsel hadacted as a legal advis…