TRANS-MERIDIAN MARITIME SERVICES LIMITED V. GULF MARITIME COMPANY LIMITED OWNERS OF THE SHIP M.V. “GULF VENTURES” OWNERS OF THE SHIP M.V. “ANNABEL VENTURES” RE-NAMED M.V. “AGONA” OWNERS OF THE SHIP M.V. “KADAS” OWNERS OF THE SHIP M.V. “ASHANTI” OWNERS OF THE SHIP M.V. “FANTI” OWNERS OF THE SHIP M.V. “CLOUD” OWNERS OF THE SHIP M.V. “GULF EXPRESS” OWNERS OF THE SHIP M.V. “GULF PRINCESS” OWNERS OF THE SHIP M.V. “GULF DUCHESS” OWNERS OF THE SHIP M.V. “P. E. P. STAR” OWNERS OF THE SHIP M.V. “CITY OF TEMA”

OGUNTADE, JCA (Delivering the Lead Ruling): This is an application by the appellant. It prays for the following orders:-

To amend the notice of appeal by filing additional grounds of appeal Nos. 5, 6, 7 and 8. To raise on appeal fresh issues not argued in the court below as put across in the proposed additional grounds of appeal Nos. 5 and 6. To deem as properly filed the additional grounds of appeal.

To file appellant’s brief out of time. 5. To deem as properly filed the appellant’s brief filed out of time.

We heard the application on 7/1/2000, when it was argued by Dr. O. Ikpeazu for the applicant. Learned counsel moved in the terms of the papers filed. He relied on the affidavit in support and submitted that the applicant A was exercising its constitutional right of appeal against an order of the lower court with which it was displeased. He said that it would not be necessary to call further evidence as a result of the proposed additional grounds of appeal. Counsel relied on Reside…