EDOZIE, J.C.A (Delivering the Leading Judgment): The respondent and appellants herein were respectively, plaintiff and defendants in suit No.FHC/CN/CS/6/98 filed before the Federal High Court in respect of a dispute arising from a contract agreement entered into between the plaintiff and the 1st defendant. By that agreement dated 20th November, 1996, the plaintiff hired on charter to the 1st defendant its barge known as Prim 1 for an initial period of 6 months with effect from 20/11/96 at a daily rate of N24,000 subject to other terms and conditions. At the expiration of the initial period, dispute arose as to whether or not there was option for renewal. While the plaintiff maintained that there was such an option and that the defendants had by conduct renewed the contract, the defendants denied the assertion contending that the plaintiff had been written to remove its barge which was leaking and unsuitable for the purpose for which it was chartered. Against this background the plaint…