EZEOKAFOR UMEOJIAKO & ANOR V. AHANONU EZENAMUO & ORS.

BELGORE, JSC (DELIVERING THE LEADING JUDGMENT): The appellants were plaintiffs at the trial court and having lost their case there appealed to the Court of Appeal, Enugu Division, where their appeal was dismissed. Both parties are from the same locality, Ikenga, but from two different villages of Akpuru or Akpulu - (perhaps due to dialectical preference!) and Amaokuko respectively. The appellants in their plan, which was exhibit A at the trial court, named the land in dispute over which they claimed ownership by praying for declaration of title and injunction, forfeiture and damages resulting from trespass as IKE UGWU AKPURU, the plaintiffs claimed to represent Akpulu family of Ikenga. After several amendments of their claim and statement of claim, following closely on the respondents filing their own statement of defence, the case took off and the evidence offered by the parties led to the close of the case. Learned trial judge felt as if the plaintiffs were on a wild goose chase and…