PHARMACIST EMEKA OGBONNA V. DR. STEPHEN OGBONNAYA OGWUEGBU, NZE RICHARD IHEZIE, NZE CORNELIUS ANYANWUOCHA, NZE NWABUEZE OKEREKE, THE EXECUTIVE GOVERNOR OF IMO STATE, THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL OF IMO STATE, THE COMMISSIONER, IMO STATEMINISTRY OF COMMUNITY GOVERNMENT CHIEFTAINCY AFFAIRS, IHITTE/UBOMA LOCAL GOVERNMENT, NZE FELIX OKONKWO, ICHIE LAMBERT NWOKOIWU OBILO, ICHIE MATHEW NWAMKPA & ICHIE CELESTINE EMENOGU

AGIM, J.S.C.: (Delivering the Leading Judgment): This appeal No. SC. 1157/2019 is against the judgment of the Court of Appeal in CA/OW/02/2019 delivered on 22-8-2019 affirming the ruling of the Imo State High Court delivered on 13-12-2018 in suit No.HOW/204/2018 dismissing the objection that the plaintiffs had no locus standi to sue and that the originating process be set aside for being irregularly issued and served. The notice of appeal filed on 3-9-2019 was, with leave of this court, amended on 7-11-2019.

The parties herein filed, exchanged, and adopted their respective briefs as follows: the appellant's brief, the 1st-4th respondents’ brief, and the appellant's reply brief.

The appellant's brief raised the following issues for determination:

1. Whether the learned Justices of the Court of Appeal were right when they held that the plaintiffs who instituted this suit in their personal/individual capacities possess the requisite locus standi to institute the same.

2. Whether the learned Justic…