AVAAN MAKAAN V. DENNIS TOR HANGEM & ORS

ONYEKACHI AJA OTISI, J.C.A. (Delivering the Leading Judgment): This is an appeal against the judgment of the High Court of Benue State sitting at Makurdi delivered on June 30, 2014 in Suit No. MHC/169/2012 by M. A. Ikpambese, J. in which the claims of the Respondents who were plaintiffs before the lower Court were granted.

The facts leading to this appeal as presented by the Appellant are as follows: The Respondents as plaintiffs commenced action at the lower Court in Suit No. MHC/169/2012 against the Appellant and six others. The Appellant was the 1st defendant in the said suit. The Appellant and the Respondents are all from Mbahwabo kindred of Gwer West Local Government Area of Benue State. The Mbahwabo kindred is made up of two components: the Mbakyongo and the Mbayuhe components. The kindred headship rotates among these two components. The two components are further divided into sub components. The Mbakyongo component is divided into two sub components (sons): Mbagbadu (1st Son) an…