SHELL PETROLEUM DEVELOPMENT COMPANY NIGERIA LIMITED V. ZENITH BANK PLC & ORS.

EJEMBI EKO, J.C.A. (Delivering the Leading Ruling): My Lords, when this matter came up for hearing on 9th December, 2010 a sister case no CA/PH/387/2010 with all the parties, as in this suit, was also listed on the cause list. The appearances of counsel respectively for the parties in that matter were in paria materia with counsel appearances in this case. The counsel, particularly Chief Richard Akinjide, SAN for Appellant/Applicant and L.E. Nwosu, Esq. SAN for 2nd set of Respondents, were surprised that suit no CA/PH/387/2010 was listed on the cause list that day.

I heard both senior counsel well that day. Chief Richard Akinjide SAN stated from the Bar that against the refusal of the Rivers State High Court to join Shell Petroleum Development Company Nigeria Limited (SPDC), the present Appellant/Applicant, as an interested party in the suit no PHC/1690/2010 they had filed two notices of appeal on 24th and 25th August, 2010. L.E. Nwosu, SAN, also from the Bar, offered corroboration. T…