IBRAHIM TANKO MUHAMMAD, J.S.C. (Delivering the Leading Judgment): This is an interlocutory appeal against the Ruling of Port-Harcourt division of the Court of Appeal (court below) of 23rd October, 2013, wherein the court below struck out appellants' appeal against the judgment of the Federal High Court (trial court) holden at Asaba, delivered on the 14th of June, 2010. Facts relevant to this appeal as contained in the records of appeal are that the respondents, herein, as plaintiffs, instituted an action against the appellants, herein, as defendants. The plaintiffs claimed damages in excess of N17 Billion Naira against the defendants arising from alleged oil spills in the course of defendants' operations. The trial court entered judgment in favour of the plaintiffs and awarded a sum in excess of N17 Billion Naira as damages against the defendants. Dissatisfied with the decision of the trial court the defendants filed an appeal to the court below. Two Notices of Appeal, according to th…