NWEZE, J.S.C. (Delivering the Leading Judgment): The respondent herein commenced an action at the High Court of Kwara State (hereinafter, simply, referred to as “the trial court”) by way of writ of summons under the undefended list procedure against the appellants. It claimed for the payment of the sum of N586,206,883.33 as money due to it. Upon being served with the writ of summons and accompanying affidavit, the appellants joined issues with the respondent by filing a notice of intention to defend together with a supporting affidavit They urged the trial court to transfer the suit to the general list for hearing on the merits. The appellants, simultaneously, raised a preliminary objection to the hearing of the suit. They prayed the court to strike out the suit for want of jurisdiction or stay proceedings thereon, and refer the matter to arbitration. They drew the trial court’s attention to the existence of an arbitration clause in the agreement between the parties. In response, the …