G.A. OGUNTADE, JSC (Delivering the Leading Judgment): The appellants were the plaintiffs at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja where they claimed against the respondents as follows:
"1. The sum of ₦25,300,000.00 (Twenty-five million, three hundred thousand Naira only) being money wrongfully and/or negligently "transferred" from the Plaintiffs' Account No.201078886 with the ABUJA BRANCH of the Defendant bank.
2. Further or in the alternative, the plaintiffs claim the said sum as a debt which debt the defendant has failed to pay despite repeated demands.
3. In the further alternative, the plaintiffs claim the said sum as their money converted by the defendant.
4. Further, or in the alternative, the plaintiffs claim the said sum as money had and received by the Defendants to the Plaintiffs' use.
5. A consecutive and accumulative claim of interest on the said at the rate 21% per annum from 7/7/98 until payment."
The parties filed and exchanged pleadings. On 8/3/2000, …