MASSOUD ABDULRAHMAN OREDOLA, J.C.A. (Delivering the Leading Judgment): This is an appeal against the judgment of Anambra State High Court sitting at Awka (hereinafter referred to as the Lower Court), delivered by Hon. Justice M. I. Onochie on the 10thday of October, 2008.
Brief summary of facts of the case.
The appellants who were plaintiffs at the Lower Court are retired civil servants of Anambra State. Sometime in 1997 after Anambra State was created, the Anambra State Government allocated some buildings to the State Civil servants in order to alleviate their problems with regard to accommodation, since some of the workers lived in Enugu State while they worked in Anambra State. Due to persistent pleas from the civil servants and in line with the Federal Government housing policy, the Anambra State House of Assembly passed a law; Government Quarters and Estate Flats (Owner Occupier Status) Anambra State Law No. 6 of 2002 And thereby allegedly transferred ownership of the government qu…