E. O. AYOOLA, J.S.C. (Delivering the Leading Judgment): In this appeal from the decision of the Court of Appeal delivered on 25th February, 1997, the appellant is West African Breweries Ltd., the plaintiff in an action instituted in the Federal High Court against the respondents. The parties to this appeal (that is, the appellant and the respondents) are described in this judgment, respectively, as the plaintiff and the defendants, as they were described at the trial, for convenience. The plaintiff's action in the Federal High Court ("the trial court") concerned, in the main, the sale of certain assets of the North Brewery Plc, [2nd defendant, (listed as 6th respondent in the title)]. The plaintiff was at a time the holder of only 50% of the equity of the North Brewery, but the remaining 50% which was held by the Federal Government of Nigeria had since been acquired by the plaintiff. The United Bank for Africa Plc ("United Bank") [which was the 3rd defendant at the trial but is listed…