UWAIFO, JSC (Delivering the Leading Judgment):
Introduction
The relevant facts bearing on this appeal from a judgment of the Court of Appeal, Ibadan Division, given on 14 April, 1992, can be stated with much brevity. It is unnecessary to go to full details, much of which I consider irrelevant. That will make it fairly easy to deal with the issues arising from the appeal. The issues raise important questions about a legal practitioner's bill of charges prior to an action to recover the same.
The appellant is a legal practitioner. He was briefed by the respondent to defend a claim of ₦3,270,400.00 brought against it in Suit No. KWS/227/84 by Paul Okedare and another (for themselves and on behalf of Okedare family) at the High Court, Ilorin in Kwara State. It is in respect of land acquired by the respondent in which compensation for crops thereon was sought. The appellant successfully defended the action which was dismissed in a judgment delivered by Hon. Justice T.A. Oyeyipo, Chief Jud…