KUMAI BAYANG AKAAHS, J.C.A. (Delivering the Leading Judgment): Appeal Nos. CA/C/7/09 and CA/C/8/09 were consolidated by order of court on 19/5/2009. Appeal No. CA/C/7/09 arose from an interlocutory ruling delivered on 13/12/2004 while Appeal No. CA/C/8/09 arose from a final ruling delivered on 31/10/2005 in the same Suit No. HEK/8/83.
The Notice of Appeal in CA/C/7/09 was filed on 1/6/2006 while that of CA/C/8/09 is dated 21/11/2005.
The Plaintiff commenced Suit NO. HEK/8/83 by Writ of Summons dated 24th February, 1983 and claimed in his further amended State of Claim dated 28th July, 2000 and filed on 4/8/2000 the following reliefs:
"(i) A declaration of this Honourable Court that the plaintiff is entitled to the Statutory Right of Occupancy to all that piece or parcel of land known as and called USAN UKU MKPOK verged red in survey plan No.AQ3/85 (LD) dated 12th January, 1985 lying and situate at Mkpok Eket in Eket Urban which annual value is N20.00 (Twenty Naira).
(ii) N30.000,000…