<p><strong>C. A. OPUTA, J.S.C. (Delivering The Leading Judgment):</strong> The plaintiff/appellant joined the Nigerian Civil Service on the 7th July, 1944. He then served in the Department of Agriculture. Sometimes in 1949, he was transferred to the Department of Marketing and Export and in 1962 he was again transferred to the Nigerian Produce Marketing Company Ltd. On the creation of the Nigerian Cotton Board-the defendant company-the plaintiff was again &quot;deployed thereto and deemed to have been appointed by the defendant Board with effect from 1st day of April, 1977&quot;. By letter No. NCTB/CSTP-387/31 of 11th April, 1979, tendered as Exhibit Q, the defendant company retired the plaintiff from the service of the Board with full benefits, and requested him &quot;to vacate the Board&#x27;s quarters, after a period of one month&#x27;s grace&quot;. Thereupon the plaintiff sued the defendant in the High Court of Lagos State claiming as follows: </p><p> The plaintiff&#x27;s Writ of Summons in this case was dated 10th July, 1979 and was expedit…</p>