EJEMBI EKO, J.C.A (Delivering the Leading Judgment): Before the Rivers State High Court (Coram: E.N. Ebete, J) the Appellant was the 1st Defendant at the suit of the 1st-9th Respondents. The Appellant was sued along with two others, namely the 10th and 11th Respondents, who respectively were the 2nd and 3rd Defendants at the trial court. The Appellant and the 1st-9th Respondents exchanged pleadings. The 1st-9th Respondents, as plaintiffs, filed a joint statement of claim on 16th May, 2000 wherein they claimed against the three Defendants as follows:-
i. A declaration that the Defendants, especially the 1st Defendant has no right to effect compensation payment to any person or group of persons, with respect to the Gas Gathering Associated Pipeline Project Structural Assessment which assessment took place on the 24th-28th days of February, 1999 at Cawthorne Channels 1, 2 and 3, along New Calabar river in Bakana Town of Degema Local Government Area of Rivers State, when the claims assess…