86

B.
C.C.Pl
c.v
.SkyI
nsp.(
Nig.
)Lt
d.

9December2002

BENUECEMENTCOMPANYPLC.

V.

1.

SKYI
NSPECTI
ONNI
G.LTD.
2.

A.P.C.NWUDE

COURTOFAPPEAL

(
JOSDI
VISI
ON)

CA/
J/I
37/
98

MARI
AM ALOMAMUKHTAR,
J.C.
A.(
Presi
ded)

I
BRAHI
M TANKOMUHAMMAD,
J.C.
A.(
Readt
heLeadi
ngJudgment
)

OLUDADEOLADAPOOBADI
NA,
J.C.
A.

THURSDAY,
14THMARCH,
2002

APPEAL-Br
iefofar
gument-Badori
nel
egantbr
ief-At
ti
tudeofCour
tofAppeal
ther
eto.
APPEAL-Er
rori
njudgment-Whet
herev
eryerr
orwi
l
lresul
tinr
ever
sal
ofj
udgmentonappeal
-
Whenerr
orwil
ll
eadtorev
ersal
ofj
udgment.

APPEAL-I
ssuesfordeter
mi nat
ion-Argumentsther
eon-Counselar
guingal
lissuesfor
mul
ated
i
nlumpsum ort
ogether-Propri
etyof-Whetheri
naccordwit
hformatforbri
efwrit
ing.

CONTRACT-Count
er-
off
er-Meani
ngof
-Nat
ureof-Whatconst
it
utes.

CONTRACT-For
mat
ionofcont
ract-Consensusadi
dem -Howr
eached.

[
2002]17NWLR

B.
C.C.Pl
c.v
.SkyI
nsp.(
Nig.
)Lt
d.

87

CONTRACT-For
mat
ionofcont
ract-Val
i
dcont
ract-El
ement
sof
.

CONTRACT-Accept
ance-Meani
ngof
-Modesof
.
CONTRACT-Of
fer-Meani
ngof
.

CONTRACT-Of
fer-Rev
ocat
ionof-Howandwhenmaybedone.

CONTRACT-Ter
msofcont
ract-Bi
ndi
ngnessofonpar
ti
est
her
eto.

COURT-
Specul
ati
on-Dut
yoncour
ttor
efr
aint
her
efr
om.

COURT-Vacat
ion-Peri
odofcour
t'
svacat
ion-Whet
herthesameasknownpubl
i
chol
i
day-
Whet
hercanbejudi
cial
l
ynoti
ced-Par
tyasser
ti
ng-Dut
yt her
eont
oprove.

JUDGMENTANDORDER-Int
erest-Awardofi
nter
estonjudgmentdebt-Powerofcour
tto
make-Or
der40,
rul
e7,
HighCourtofBenueSt
ate(Ci
vil
Procedur
e)Rules,1988.
JUDGMENTANDORDER-Del i
veryofjudgment-Del
i
ver
yofjudgmentoutsi
det
hreemonths
ti
meli
mit-Whetheri
psof
act
ov i
ti
atessame-Whatappel
lat
ecourtshoul
dconsi
der-When
j
udgmentwil
lbeall
owedt
ostand.

JUDGMENTANDORDER-Er r
orinj
udgment-Whetherever
yer
rorwil
lresul
tinr
ever
sal
of
j
udgmentonappeal
-Whenerr
orwil
ll
eadtorev
ersalofj
udgment.

JUDGMENTANDORDER-Inter
est-Awar
dofi
nter
estonj
udgmentdebt-Whet
herpl
aint
if
fmust
speci
fi
cal
l
ycl
aimi
nwr
itofsummons.

LEGALPRACTI TI
ONER-Br i
efwri
ti
ng-Argumentofi
ssuesfordet
erminat
ion-Howdone-
Counselar
guingal
lissuesformul
atedi
nlumpsum ortoget
her-Propr
iet
yof-Whetheri
naccor
d
wit
hformatforbri
efwriti
ng.

88

Ni
ger
ianWeekl
yLawRepor
ts

9December2002

PRACTI
CEANDPROCEDURE-Appeal
-Br
iefofar
gument-Badori
nel
egantbr
ief-At
ti
tudeof
Cour
tofAppeal
ther
eto.

PRACTICEANDPROCEDURE-Judgmentandorder-Awardofi
nter
estonjudgmentdebt-
Powerofcour
ttomake-Or
der40,
rul
e7,HighCourtofBenueSt
ate(Ci
vi
lProcedur
e)Rules,
1988.

PRACTI
CEANDPROCEDURE-Del iver
yofjudgment-Del
i
veryofjudgmentout
sidethreemont
hs
ti
meli
mit-Whetheri
psof
act
ov i
ti
atessame-Whatappell
atecourtshoul
dconsider-When
j
udgmentwil
lbeall
owedt
ostand.

PRACTI
CEANDPROCEDURE-Er r
orinjudgment-Whetherever
yerr
orwi
l
lresul
tinr
ever
sal
of
j
udgmentonappeal
-Whener
rorwil
lleadtor
eversedofjudgment
.

PRACTICEANDPROCEDURE-Judgmentandorder-Awar
dofi
nter
estonj
udgmentdebt-
Whetherpl
aint
if
fmustspeci
fi
cal
l
ycl
aimi
nwri
tofsummons.

PRACTICEANDPROCEDURE-Judgmentandor der-I
nterestonj
udgmentdebt-Cl
aimt
her
efor-
Whatcourtshoul
dconsi
der
-"I
nter
estasofr
ight
"-Meaningof-Whenari
ses.

PRACTICEANDPROCEDURE-Issuesfordeter
minat
ion-Argument
sther
eon-Counselar
guing
al
li
ssuesfor
mul
atedi
nlumpsum -Propri
etyof-Whetheri
naccor
dwithf
ormatforbr
iefwri
ti
ng.

PRACTI
CEANDPROCEDURE-Specul
ati
on-Dut
yoncour
ttor
efr
aint
her
efr
om.

PRACTI
CEANDPROCEDURE-Vacat
ion-Per
iodofcour
t'
svacat
ion-Whet
hert
hesameas
knownpubl
i
chol
i
day-Whet
hercanbej
udi
cial
l
ynot
iced-Par
tyasser
ti
ng-Dut
yther
eont
opr
ove.

WORDSANDPHRASES-"
Accept
ance"-Meani
ngof
.

WORDSANDPHRASES-"
Int
erestasofr
ight
"-Meani
ngof
.

[
2002]17NWLR

B.
C.C.Pl
c.v
.SkyI
nsp.(
Nig.
)Lt
d.

89

WORDSANDPHRASES-"
Off
er"-"
Count
er-
off
er"-Meani
ngsof
.

I
ssues:

1.

Whet
hert
her
espondent
swer
eent
it
ledt
ojudgment
.

2.

Whet
hert
her
espondent
swer
eent
it
ledt
o10%i
nter
estawar
dedbyt
het
ri
alcour
t.
3.

Whetherther
ewasami scar
ri
ageofjust
icewhent
hej
udgmentoft
het
ri
alcour
twasdel
i
ver
ed
out
sidethethreemont
hstimeli
mit
.

4.

Whet
hert
her
espondent
swer
eent
it
ledt
otheent
ir
esum cl
aimed.

5.

Whet
hert
het
ri
alcourtwasrightt
orel
yont
heev
idenceoft
heappel
l
ant
'
ssol
ewi
tnesst
oref
use
someoft
her
espondents'
claims.

Fact
s:

The1strespondentisar egi
ster
edlimi
tedli
abi
li
tycompanyhavingfi
nancialconsul
tancyasone
ofit
sobjectsofbusiness,whil
ethe2ndrespondenti
stheExecuti
veDirectorandChief
Executi
veofthe1strespondentandwhowasdi r
ectl
yinchar
geoftheconsul t
ancybusiness
betweenthe1strespondentandt heappel
l
ant.Theappell
ant
,ontheotherhand, i
sapublic
l
imitedcompany.

On24/ 9/91,the1strespondentwr oteapr oposal,exhi

bitA,totheappell
antoff
eringtoassist
theappellanttodi
scov erallwrongandexcessbankchar geschargedbybankswi thwhichthe
appell
anthadbanki ngt r
ansactionsandi nretur
nwoul dbepai d50%ofallsumsdi scoveredby
the1strespondentbyt heappel lant.Theappel l
antinaletter
,exhibi
tB,dated29/11/91made
whatinessenceamount edtoacount er-
offertothe1strespondenttorecover(andnotjustto
discover
)al l
suchunconv ent
ional chargesandi nretur
nbeent it
ledto50%commi ssi
onoft he
sum recov er
ed.

Therespondent
sfi
rstdiscov
eredanexcesschargeofN640,365.
39ontheaccountofthe
appel
lantwit
htheUnionBank,GbokoBranch.Af
tert
hediscovery
,thebankacknowl
edgedthe
excesschar
geandr ef
undedsamewi t
hal ett
erofapology.Theappel
lantpai
dther espondent
s
the50%commi ssi
onont heamountdiscover
ed.Otherdiscover
iesweresubsequentlymade
from v
ari
ousbanksbytherespondent
s.

90

Ni
ger
ianWeekl
yLawRepor
ts

9December2002

Therespondent sclai
medt hatthecommi ssi
onduet othem f
rom theappell
antonallt
he
amountdiscov eredwithinterestswhichremainedunpaidbytheappell
antisthesum of
N4,369,
747.30( f
ourmi l
lion,threehundredandsixt
y-ni
nethousand,sevenhundredandfor
ty-
sevennair
a,thirt
ykobo) .Ther espondentsmadedemandont heappellantt
opaysame, butt
he
appell
antfai
led.

Consequentuponthis,t
herespondentscommencedanact ionattheHighCourt,Gboko
clai
mingthesaidsum ofN4,369,747.
30asthetotalcommi ssionduetothem fr
om the
consult
ancyservi
cesrenderedtotheappel
lant
.Ther espondentsalsocl
aimed10%i nter
eston
thesaidsum begi
nningfrom March,1995unti
ltheenti
resum i sf
ull
yandfinal
l
yliqui
dated.

Theappel
lantdeniedtheclai
msoft herespondentsandst at
edthattherespondentsdidnot
per
formtheirworkinaccordancewiththeter
msst ipulatedi
nexhibi
tB.Theappellant
'scase
wasthatt
hef ai
lur
ebyt herespondentstoperf
ormt heirjobdi
sent
itl
edthem toanyclaim atal
l
,
moresowhent herespondentsdidnotclai
m partperformanceint
healternat
ive.

Attheconclusi
onofhearing,
thetri
alcour
tenteredj udgmentinfavouroft
herespondentsinthe
sum ofN1,058,584.
5k(Onemi l
li
onandf i
ft
y-ei
ghtt housand,f
ivehundredandeight
y-fournai
ra,
fi
vekobo).Thetri
alcour
talsoawarded10%i nterestofthejudgmentsum from March,1995til
l
theamounti sf
ull
ypaid.

Dissatisfi
ed,theappell
antappeal
edtotheCourtofAppeal.Therespondentswerealso
di
ssat i
sf i
edwi t
ht hej
udgmentofthetr
ial
courtonthegroundthathavingregardt
ot he
admi ssionsoft heappel
lant
'
ssolewit
ness,t
heywer eenti
tl
edto,andthetrial
courtoughtt
o
haveawar dedthem, j
udgmentontheenti
resum cl
aimed.
I
ndet
ermi
ningtheappeal
,theCourtofAppealconsi
deredtheprov
isi
onsofOrder40,
rul
e7of
t
heHi
ghCourtofBenueState(Ci
vi
l Pr
ocedure)Rul
es,1988whichreadthus:

'
Thecourtattheti
meofmaki nganyj udgmentororder,
oratanytimeafter
war ds,
maydi r
ectthe
ti
mewithi
nwhi chthepay mentorot heracti
stobemadeordone, r
eckonedfrom thedateof
j
udgment,orderorfrom someot herpointofti
me,asthecourtt
hinksfi
tandmayor deri
nter
est
atar
atenotexceedingtennai r
apercent um perannum t
obepaiduponanyj udgment ,
commencingf r
om thedatethereoforaf t
erwards,
asthecasemaybe. "

[
2002]17NWLR

B.
C.C.Pl
c.v
.SkyI
nsp.(
Nig.
)Lt
d.

91

Hel
d(Unani
mousl
yal
l
owi
ngt
heappeal
inpar
tanddi
smi
ssi
ngt
hecr
oss-
appeal
):

1.

OnEl
ement
sofv
ali
dcont
ract-

Acont
racti
ssai
dtobev
ali
dwhent
hef
oll
owi
ngel
ement
sexi
st,
thati
s:

(
a)

anagr
eementwhi
chconsi
stsofof
ferandaccept
ance;

(
b)

consi
derati
on-whichi
ssomer i
ght
,int
erestorbenefi
taccrui
ngtooneparty
,orsome
for
bearance,det
ri
ment
,lossorr
esponsi
bil
itygi
ven,suf
feredorunder
takenbytheot
herathi
s
request.Itisnotnecessar
ythatt
hepromi
sorshouldbenefi
tfr
om theconsi
derat
ionandi
tis
suffi
cientifthepromiseedoessomeactf
rom whichathir
dpartybenef
it
s,andwhichhewould
nothav eordinari
l
ydonebutf ort
hepr
omise;

(
c)

i
ntentiontocreat
elegalrel
ati
onbetweenthepart
iesasanagreementwil
lnotbeenf
orced
unlessitevi
ncesanintenti
ontocreat
elegalr
elat
ions.Suchani
ntent
ionwi
llbei
nfer
redfr
om t
he
presenceofconsider
ation.(
Pp.105-106,par
as.E-A)

2.

OnHowconsensusadi
dem i
sreached-

Anagr eementi
nacont r
act,
thatis,theconsensusadidem (meeti
ngoft heminds)
,isusuall
y
reachedbytheprocessofofferandacceptance.Iti
srequi
redthatther
eshouldinacontractbe
anof f
eronascert
ainabl
etermswhi chshouldreceiv
eanunqualifi
edacceptancefr
om the
persontowhom itismade.(P.106,paras.A-B)

3.

OnMeani
ngofof
ferandhowandwhenmayber
evoked-

Anofferi
sanexpressi
on,expressori
mplied,byoneper
sonorgr
oupofpersons,orbyagent
s
onhisbehalf
,madetoanotherofhiswil
l
ingnesstobeboundtoacont
ractwit
hthatother
per
sonont ermsei
ther

92

Ni
ger
ianWeekl
yLawRepor
ts

9December2002
cer
tai
norcapableofbeingrenderedcert
ain.Theoffershouldbecommuni catedtotheother
par
tyinordert
hathisacceptancemayconst i
tuteacontractandmayber evokedatanyt i
me
bef
oreithasbeenaccepted,provi
dedthattherevocat
ioniscommuni cat
edt otheoffer
ee.The
powertoacceptanoffermaybet ermi
natedbyanyunambi guousint
imati
on,expressorimpli
ed
bytheoff
ereetotheoffer
orthatherej
ectstheof f
er.(
P.106, par
as.B-D)

4.

OnMeani
ngofaccept
ance-

Anacceptanceisani
ndi
cati
on,expressorimpli
ed,byt
heoff
ereemadewhi l
sttheofferremains
openandinthemannerrequest
edi ntheoff
eroftheof
fer
ee'
swill
i
ngnesstobebound
uncondi
ti
onall
ytoacont
ractwit
ht heoffer
orontheter
msstatedi
ntheoffer
.Wher etheofferor
makesmor ethanoneof
fer,t
heoffereemuststatewhi
choff
erheisaccepti
ng.(P.106,paras.E
-F)

5.

OnModesofaccept
anceofof
fer-

Ther
ear
evar
iousmodesofaccept
inganof
fer
.Theyar
e:

(
a)

bypr
omi
se;

(
b)

bysi
l
ence;
(
c)

byactorper
for
mance;
or

(
d)

byal
ter
nat
ivemodesasmaybeenshr
inedi
ntheof
fer
.

However,anaccept
ancemustbecommunicatedtotheoff
eroranditisnotcommuni cat
edunti
l
i
tisactual
lybr
oughttot
henoticeoft
heoff
eror.Anoff
ercannotbeacceptedcondi
tional
ly.The
of
fereehaspowertoacceptonlyont
heter
msst at
edintheoffer
.(P.106,par
as.F-
H)

6.

OnMeani
ngofcount
er-
off
er-

Acounter-
off
eri
sast
atementbyt
heoffer
eewhi
chhasthelegalef
fectofrej
ect
ingt
heofferand
ofpr
oposinganewof
fertot
heoff
eror
.Itput
sanendt
ot heprev
iousofferoft
heini
ti
alof
feror
.
Andthere

[
2002]17NWLR

B.
C.C.Pl
c.v
.SkyI
nsp.(
Nig.
)Lt
d.

93

canbenocount
er-
off
erunl
essi
tcr
eat
esapowerofaccept
ancei
nthepr
evi
ousof
fer
or.(
Pp.106
-107,
par
as.H-
A)

7.
OnNat
ureofcount
er-
off
er-

Acount er-
offerisanoffer
.Ithast hechar act
eri
sti
csandconsequencesofanor maloff
er .So
alsoisitsacceptance.I
tcanbeaccept edorr ej
ectedbyt heprevi
ousofferor
,nowoffer
ee.I nthe
i
nstantcase, exhibi
tBisacount er-of
ferandast herespondent scommencedwor konr eceiptof
exhibi
tBwi thoutanyprotest,t
heywer et akentohaveaccept edthecounter-
off
eri
nexhi bitB.
Thecommencementofwor kbyt herespondent swithoutfur
thernegoti
ati
onisaconcrete
acceptanceoft heproposalinthecount eroff
er.I
twasanaccept ancebyconductorby
perfor
mance.( Pp.110-111,paras.G-A)

8.

OnWhatconst
it
utescount
er-
off
er-

Iti
srequiredthatanoff ereehastomakeani ndicati
onofhisunqual
ifi
edacceptanceoft heoffer
madebyt heoffer
orint hemannerr equest
edbyt helat
terontheter
msst at
edintheof f
er .Any
addit
iontoorsubt r
actionf r
om thetermsoftheof f
erisanalt
erat
iontotheter
msandamount s
toat ot
alrej
ectionoftheof ferbytheoffer
ee.Thetermsembeddedi ntherej
ecti
onmayf orm
thebasisfortheformat ionofanewagr eement.Thisiswhatamountst oacounterof
fer.(P.110,
paras.E-G)

PerI
.T.MUHAMMAD,
J.C.
A.atpage111,
par
as.C-
F:

"If
inditr
atherdif
fi
culttoagreewit
hthel earnedcounsel f
ort heappellantwhenhearguedthat
thelear
nedtri
alJudgesuomot usubsti
tutedthecasef orther espondentsbyfindi
ngacounter
-
off
er.Anoffer,
anaccept anceoracounter-offeraregeneralprinci
plesoflawenshri
nedint
he
generall
awofcont r
actswhi chatr
ialJudgehasr i
ghttopronounceupon.Fur thermor
e,i
nhis
evi
denceDW1st at
edt hat

94

Ni
ger
ianWeekl
yLawRepor
ts
9December2002

around1992t hedefendantcont racted1stpl ainti

ffrepresentedby2ndpl ainti
fftolookintobank
chargesimposedondef endantbyt heirbanker swi thav i
ewt or ecov
eringexcessofwr ong
charges.Whent heygotpl ainti
ff
'spr oposal,theyst udi
edsameandgav ewr it
tenresponse
commi ssioning1stpl ainti
fftodot hewor kfort hem andexhi bitBwasi dent i
fi
edbyDW1ast he
onlyauthenticlett
erthatcommi ssi onedpl ai
ntifftodot hewor k.Icannotseehowt helearned
tri
alJudgesubst itut
edt hecasef ortherespondent s.Thef actsofwhatt ranspiredrevealeda
rej
ecti
onoft heor igi
nal offerbyt heofferee.Idonotknowabet t
ernamet ocallanewpr oposal
byanof fereewhodeci dest orejectanof fermadet ohim byt hepr evi
ousof f
eror,t
hanacount er
-
offer
."

9.

OnBi
ndi
ngnessoft
ermsofcont
ractonpar
ti
est
her
eto-

Thecourtdoesnotmakecont ractsf ort

hepar t
ies.Itisonlywhatt hepar t
iesagreedt ointhe
ter
msent eredbyt hem t
hatbindst hem.Intheinst antcase,thetermsoft hecontractbetween
theparti
escont ai
nedinexhibi
tBmadenopr ovisionsondi scoveryofexcessandwr ong
chargesbyt heappell
ant'
sbanker sbutonlyonr ecov eryofsuchchar ges.Thet ri
alcourtcould
nothaveext endedtheter
msoft hecontracttocov erdiscovery.[
At oyebiv.Bel
lo(1997)11
NWLR( Pt.528)268; Ol
atundev .O.A.U.(1998)5NWLR( Pt.549)178r ef
erredto.
]( P.117,par
as.
A-C)

10.

OnPowerofcour
ttoawar
dint
erestonj
udgmentdebt-

Byvir
tueofOrder40,r
ule7oftheHighCourtofBenueStat
e(CivilProcedure)Rul
es,1988,t
he
cour
tattheti
meofmaki nganyjudgmentororder
,oratanyt
imeaf terwards,maydir
ecttheti
me
wit
hinwhicht
hepay mentorot
heractistobemadeordone, reckonedf r
om thedateof
j
udgmentoror
der,orf
rom someotherpoi
ntoft
ime,
ast
hecour
tthi
nksf
itandmayor
der
i
nter
estatar
atenotexceedi
ngtennair
a

[
2002]17NWLR

B.
C.C.Pl
c.v
.SkyI
nsp.(
Nig.
)Lt
d.

95

percent
um perannum t
obepaiduponanyjudgment,commenci
ngf
rom t
hedat
ether
eofor
aft
erwar
ds,asthecasemaybe.(Pp.111-
112,par
as.H-B)

11.

OnWhatcour
tshoul
dconsi
deri
nacl
aimf
ori
nter
estonj
udgmentdebt-

I
nacl
aimf
ori
nter
est
,twot
hingsshoul
dbeconsi
der
ed,
thati
s:

(
a)

whet
heri
nter
esti
sasofr
ight
;or

(
b)

whet
heri
nter
esti
sconf
err
edbyast
atut
e.

I
ntheinst
antcase, t
heinterestcl
aimedbyt herespondentsfal
lsundercategory(
a)abov
e,that
i
s,t
heonewhi chhasbeencont emplatedbytheparti
es.Howev er
,apartf
rom themereclai
m on
t
heint
eresttherewasnoav ermentintherespondents'
statementofclai
m pleadi
ngthef
actsof
t
heint
erestclaimed.(Pp.111,paras.G-H;112paras.D-E)
12.

OnWheni
nter
esti
sasofr
ight-

Ani nterestwhi chisasofr ightinacl ai

mf ori
nterestist heki ndwhichhasbeencont emplated
byt heagr eementbet weent hepar t
iesorunderamer cant i
l
ecust om orunderapr i
ncipl
eof
equi t
ysuchasbr eachofaf iduciaryrel
ationshi
p.Fort hecl aim ofsuchi nterestt opr operl
yexist
fordet erminat i
oninacour tofl aw,itmustbest at
edi ntheendor sementoft hecl aimsont he
wr i
tofsummonsorpl eadedi nt hestat
ementofcl ai
m, whet herbasedoncont ractorst at
ute,
witht hegr oundsuponwhi cht heclaimi sbased.Inthei nst antcase,therewasnoav erment
pleadingt hef actoftheint
er estclaimed.PW1onl ypr ayedf ortheinterestinhi st esti
mony .
Ther efore,therewasnobasi sf ortheclaim oftheinterestandt herespondent sdi dnotproveit.
[Ekwuni fev .Way ne(WestAf r
ica)Ltd.(
1989)5NWLR( Pt .122)422r eferr
edt o.](Pp.111,para.H;
112par as.B-G)

13.

OnWhethersuccessf
ulpl
aint
if
fneedspeci
fi
cal
l
ycl
aimi
nter
estonj
udgmentsum i
nwr
itof
summons-

Si
nceast
atementofcl
aim super
sedest
hewr
it
,ev
en

96

Ni
ger
ianWeekl
yLawRepor
ts

9December2002

i
fint
erestwasnotclaimedonthewr i
tbutfactsar epl
eadedi nthestat
ementofclai
m and
evi
dencegivenwhichshowentit
lementthereto,thecourtmay ,i
fsati
sfi
edwitht
heev i
dence,
awardint
erest
.Adjudi
cati
ononthepl ai
nti
ff
'srighttoint
erestinsuchacaseis,l
ikeonanyother
i
ssueinthecase,basedontheev i
denceplacedbef or
ethecour t.Theevi
dencecall
edatthetr
ial
i
nsuchacasewi llal
soestabl
i
sht heproperrateofinter
estandt hedatefr
om whichitshoul
d
begi
nt orun,whetherfr
om theaccrualofcauseofact i
onorotherwi
se.[HimmaMerchant
sLt d.
v.Al
iyu(1994)5NWLR( Pt.347)667,JallcoLtd.v
.OwoniboysTech.Serv.Lt
d.(
1995)4NWLR
(Pt
.391)534; Al
fotri
nLtd.v.A.
-G.,
Feder ati
on(1996)9NWLR( Pt.475)634;Ber
li
et(
Nig.
)Ltd.v.
Kachall
a(1995)9NWLR( Pt.420)478r eferr
edto.](
Pp.112-
113,paras.H-D)

14.

OnWhet
herdel
i
ver
yofj
udgmentout
sidet
hreemont
hst
imel
i
miti
psof
act
ovi
ti
atesj
udgment-

Themer ef actt
hatthej udgmentofacour twasdel i
veredafterthethreemont hsstipul
atedby
section258oft heConst ituti
onoft heFederalRepubl i
cofNi geri
a,1979( asamended)i snot
fatal.Anappel l
atecour tcanst il
llookatsuchj udgmentandi fitissati
sfiedthatt heparty
compl aininghasnotsuf f
er edami scarr
iageofjust i
ce,i
tshallall
owt hejudgmentt ostand.In
theinst antcase, thefi
nal addr essesbyt hepar t
ieswer econcludedon30/ 7/
97.Judgmentof
thet ri
al courtwasdel i
v eredon4/ 11/97,aper i
odofal mostf iv
eday sout sidethestatutory
periodoft hreemont hs.Theappel lant'
scounsel cont
endedt hatthedelay eddeliveryoccasioned
asubst ant ialmiscarr
iageofj usti
ce.Howev er
,theappel l
antwasunabl etoshowhowt he
deliverycausedt hemi scar r
iageal l
eged.[Ojokolobov .Alamu( 1987)3NWLR( Pt.61)377; Gafari
v.Johnson( 1986)5NWLR( Pt.39)66; Kpemav .State(1986)1NWLR( Pt.17)396; Awoy al
ev .
Ogunbi y i(1985)2NWLR( Pt.10)861; I
fezuev .Mbadugha( 1984)1SCNLR427; Eff
iom v.State
(1995)

[
2002]17NWLR

B.
C.C.Pl
c.v
.SkyI
nsp.(
Nig.
)Lt
d.

97

1NWLR(Pt.373)507;
Olokot
int
inv
.Sar
wni
(1997)1NWLR(
Pt.480)222r
efer
redt
o.](
Pp.113-
114,
par
as.H-F)

15.
OnWhet
herev
eryer
rori
njudgmentwi
l
lleadt
oit
srev
ersal
-

Iti
snotev er
yerrorormi stakeinaj udgmentt hatwi l
lresultinanappeal againstitbeingallowed.
Theer r
orormi stakemusthav eoccasionedami scarr
iageofj usticef ortheappel latecourtto
i
nterfer
e.Int heinst
antcase, whateverwassai dbyt hetrialcourtinr espectoft hedef enceput
for
war dbyt heappellantonlyamount edtoamer eobiterdictum whi chdidnothav eanyadv er
se
eff
ectoni tsjudgment .Iti
snott hekindofer ror,
ifatall,i
nt hecircumst ancest hatcanl eadto
thereversalofit
sdeci sion.[SpascoVehi cl
e&Pl antHi reCo.Lt d.v .Alrai
ne( Nig.)Ltd.(1995)8
NWLR( Pt.416)655r eferredto.](
P.118, paras.B-D)

16.

OnWhet
herper
iodsofcour
ts'
vacat
ioncanbej
udi
cial
l
ynot
iced-

Thevacati
onoft
hecour tisapr act
ical
thi
ng.Itmaynotbest ati
c.I
tisnotthesamewithknown
publ
icholi
day
swhichhar dlychange.Consequent
ly,
itwouldnotbepr opertonot
eperi
odsof
cour
ts'v
acati
onj
udici
all
y .Therefor
e,anypart
yasserti
ngthatthecourtisonvacat
ioni
srequi
red
topr
ovesame.(P.114,paras.G- H)

PerI
.T.MUHAMMAD,
J.C.
A.atpage114,
par
as.F-
H:

"Iam notalsofasci
natedbytheargumentoflearnedcounself
ortherespondentthattheperi
od
ofdeli
verywascaughtupbyt hevacati
onperi
odoft hel
owercourt.Vacat
ionofthecour ti
sa
pract
icalaspect.I
tmaynotbest ati
c.Theassert
ionrequi
resproofasiti
sfoolhardytonote
peri
odsofcour ts'
vacati
onjudici
all
y.I
tisnott
hesamewi thaknownpubl i
chol i
daywhi chhar
dly
changes."

98

Ni
ger
ianWeekl
yLawRepor
ts

9December2002
17.

OnDut
yoncour
ttor
efr
ainf
rom specul
ati
on-

Oneofthecardi
nalpri
nci
plesofadj
udicat
ioni
sthatacour
tshouldnotspeculate.[
Ibr
ahi
mv.
Dangwaram (
1997)1NWLR( Pt
.479)87;P.A.
N.Lt
d,v.Oj
e(1997)11NWLR( Pt.530)625
ref
err
edto.
](P.116,par
as.G-H)

18.

OnPr
opr
iet
yofcounsel
argui
ngal
li
ssuesf
ormul
atedf
ordet
ermi
nat
iont
oget
her-

Iti
sneit
hertidynori sitinaccordwi t
ht heformatforbriefwr i
ti
ngforcounseltoargueal
lthe
i
ssuesformul atedfordeterminationinacaset ogetherandatoncewi thoutt
akingti
meto
separat
ewhi char gumentbelongst owhati ssue.Intheinstantcase,counselfort
heappell
ant
arguedallt
hei ssueshef ormulatedinlumpsum, atoncewit houtt
akingthetroubl
etoseparat
e
whichargumentbel ongstowhati ssue.(P.104,paras.F-G)

19.

OnAt
ti
tudeofCour
tofAppeal
tobadbr
iefofar
gument-

TheCour tofAppealhasaresponsibil
it
yandwi l
lat
tempttomakethebesti
tcanoutofanybr i
ef
howev erbadl
ywr i
tt
en.[
Ademolajuv .Adeni
pekun(1999)1NWLR( Pt
.587)440;
AcmeBui lder
s
Ltd.v.K.S.
W.B.(1999)2NWLR( Pt.590)288;Igboi
duv.Igboi
du(
1999)1NWLR( Pt.585)27
refer
redto.](
P.104,par
as.G-H)

Ni
ger
ianCasesRef
err
edt
oint
heJudgment
:
A.
-G.
,KadunaSt
atev
.Dada(
1986)4NWLR(
Pt.38)785

AcmeBui
l
der
sLt
d.v
.K.
S.W.
B.(
1999)2NWLR(
Pt.590)288

Ademol
ajuv
.Adeni
pekun(
1999)1NWLR(
Pt.587)440

Al
fot
ri
nLt
d.v
.A.
-G.
,Feder
ati
on(
1996)9NWLR(
Pt.475)634

At
oyebi
v.Bel
l
o(1997)11NWLR(
Pt.528)268

Awoy
alev
.Ogunbi
yi(
1985)2NWLR(
Pt.10)861

Ber
li
et(
Nig.
)Lt
d.v
.Kachal
l
a(1995)9NWLR(
Pt.
420)478

Ef
fi
om v
.St
ate(
1995)1NWLR(
Pt.373)507

[
2002]17NWLR

B.
C.C.Pl
c.v
.SkyI
nsp.(
Nig.
)Lt
d.

99

Ekwuni
fev
.Way
ne(
WestAf
ri
ca)Lt
d.(
1989)5NWLR(
Pt.122)422

Gaf
ari
v.Johnson(
1986)5NWLR(
Pt.39)66

Hi
mmaMer
chant
sLt
d.v
.Al
i
yu(
1994)5NWLR(
Pt.347)667
I
brahi
mv.Dangwar
am (
1997)1NWLR(
Pt.479)87

I
fezuev
.Mbadugha(
1984)1SCNLR427

I
gboi
duv
.Igboi
du(
1999)1NWLR(
Pt.585)27

Jal
l
coLt
d.v
.Owoni
boy
sTech.Ser
v.Lt
d.(
1995)4NWLR(
Pt.
391)534

Kpemav
.St
ate(
1986)1NWLR(
Pt.17)396

Maj
ekodunmi
v.N.
B.N.Lt
d.(
1978)3SC119

Ogual
aji
v.A.
-G.
,Ri
ver
sSt
ate(
1997)6NWLR(
Pt.508)209

Oj
okol
obov
.Al
amu(
1987)3NWLR(
Pt.61)377

Ol
atundev
.O.
A.U.(
1998)5NWLR(
Pt.549)178

Ol
okot
int
inv
.Sar
umi
(1997)1NWLR(
Pt.480)222

P.
A.N.Lt
d.v
.Oj
e(1997)11NWLR(
Pt.530)625

SpascoVehi
cle&Pl
antHi
reCo.Lt
d.v
.Al
rai
ne(
Nig.
)Lt
d.(
1995)8NWLR(
Pt.416)655
For
eignCasesRef
err
edt
oint
heJudgment
:

Al
hussav
.Pr
est(
1851)6Exch.720

Bai
kuv
.Cr
oft(
1812)4Taunt611

Bi
shop&Baxt
erLD.v
.Angl
o-East
ernTr
adi
ng&I
ndust
ri
alCo.LD.(
1944)KB12

Br
ogdenv
.TheDi
rect
orsofMet
ropol
i
tanRai
l
wayCo.(
1877)2AC666

Cur
viev
.Mosa(
1875)LR10Ex153

El
l
esmer
eBr
ewer
yCo.v
.Cooper(
1896)1QB75

Fl
emi
ngv
.BankofNewZeal
and(
1900)AC577

Har
veyv
.Johnst
on&Sons(
1848)6CB295

Pet
erLi
nd&Co.v
.MesseyDocks&Har
bourBoar
d(1972)Ll
oydsRep.34

Raebum &Vessel
v.Bumess&Sons.(
1893)1Lonem Cas.22

Rose&Pr
ankCo.v
.J.
R.Cr
ompt
on&Br
os.Lt
d.(
1923)2KB261
St
evenv
.Br
oml
ey&Sons(
1919)2KB727

Tay
lorv
.Al
l
on(
1966)1QB304

Thombur
yv.Bev
il(
1842)2Y&C

Thi
nv.Hof
fmen&Co.(
1873)29LT271

Weat
her
byv
.Banhem (
1832)5C&P228

100

Ni
ger
ianWeekl
yLawRepor
ts

9December2002

Ni
ger
ianSt
atut
esRef
err
edt
oint
heJudgment
:

Compani
esandAl
l
iedMat
ter
sAct
,Cap.59,
Lawsoft
heFeder
ati
onofNi
ger
ia,
1990,
S.71(
1)&
(2)

Const
it
uti
onoft
heFeder
alRepubl
i
cofNi
ger
ia,
1979(
asamended)
,S.258

Const
it
uti
onoft
heFeder
alRepubl
i
cofNi
ger
ia,
1999,
S.294(
5)

Ni
ger
ianRul
esofCour
tsRef
err
edt
oint
heJudgment
:
CourtofAppeal
Rul
es,
1981(
asamended)
,Cap.62,
Lawsoft
heFeder
ati
onofNi
ger
ia,
1990,
0.6,
r.
9(e)

Hi
ghCour
tofBenueSt
ate(
Civ
ilPr
ocedur
e)Rul
es,
1988,
O.40,
r.7.

Appeal
andCr
oss-
appeal
:

Thesewereanappealandacr oss-
appeal
againstthej
udgmentoftheHighCour
tenter
edin
fav
ourofther
espondents.TheCourtofAppeal,i
naunanimousdecisi
on,al
l
owedtheappeali
n
partanddi
smissedt
hecr oss-
appeal.

Hi
stor
yoft
heCase:

Cour
tofAppeal
:

Di
vi
sionoft
heCour
tofAppeal
towhi
cht
heappeal
wasbr
ought
:Cour
tofAppeal
,Jos

NamesofJust
icest
hatsatontheappeal:
Mari
am Al
omaMukht ar
,J.C.
A.(Pr
esi
ded)
; I
brahi
m
TankoMuhammad,J.C.
A.(ReadtheLeadi
ngJudgment
);Ol
udadeOladapoObadi
na,J.C.
A.

Appeal
No.
:CA/
J/137/
98

Dat
eofJudgment
:Thur
sday
,14t
hMar
ch,
2002
NamesofCounsel
:Appel
l
ant
/Cr
oss-
Respondentabsentandunr
epr
esent
ed.

S.O.Si
mon,
Esq.-f
ort
heRespondent
s/Cr
oss-
Appel
l
ant
s

Hi
ghCour
t:

Nameoft
heHi
ghCour
t:Hi
ghCour
tofBenueSt
ate,
Gboko

Dat
eofJudgment
:Wednesday
,4t
hNov
ember
,1997

[
2002]17NWLR

B.
C.C.Pl
c.v
.SkyI
nsp.(
Nig.
)Lt
d. (
I.T.Muhammad,
J.C.
A.)

101

A
B

E
F

H
Counsel
:

Appel
l
ant
/Cr
oss-
Respondentabsentandunr
epr
esent
ed.

S.O.Si
mon,
Esq.-f
ort
heRespondent
s/Cr
oss-
Appel
l
ant
s

I.
T.MUHAMMAD, J.C.A.( Del
iveringtheLeadi ngJudgment):Inpar agraph46oft heiramended
statementofcl ai
m, ther espondent sher ein,asplai
nti
ff
sbef oretheBenueSt ateHighCour tof
Justice( l
owercour t),holdenatGboko, claimedagainsttheappel l
antasdef endantt hesum of
fourmi l
l
ion,threehundr edandsi xt
yni net housand,sevenhundr edandf ort
ysev ennai r
a,t
hirt
y
kobo( N4,369,747.30)bei ngthet otalcommi ssionduetothepl ainti
ffsfr
om t hedefendantasa
resultoft heconsultancyser vicesr enderedt othedefendant.Plaintif
fsalsoclaimed10%
i
nt erestont hesaidsum begi nningf r
om Mar ch,1995until
theent iresum isfull
yandf inal
l
ypaid.

Backgr
oundf
act
soft
hecaser
eveal
thatt
hef
ir
stpl
aint
if
fisar
egi
ster
edl
i
mit
edl
i
abi
l
ity
companyhav ingf i
nanci alconsultancyasoneofi tsobj ects.Thesecondpl ainti
ffist he
Execut i
v eDi rectorandChi efExecut i
veoft hefirstpl ainti
ffwhowasdi rect lyinchar geoft he
consul tancybusi nessbet weent hef ir
stplainti
ffandt hedef endant.Thedef endanti sapubl ic
l
imi t
edcompanyr egi st
eredundert helawsofNi ger ia.Thef i
r stpl
ainti
ff,on24t hSept ember ,
1991, wr oteapr oposal t
ot hedef endantf orther ecov er
yofunconv entional bankchar gesont he
account soft hedef endant .Thefirstplai
nt i
ffputi tscommi ssi onat50%oft heexcesschar ges
discover ed.Thedef endanti nalet t
erdat ed29t hNov ember , 1991,addressedt othef irstplaint
iff
,
accept edt hepr oposal oft hefi
rstpl ai
nti
ffast hei rfinancial consultants.Sequel tot heabov e
agreement ,thedef endantgav eletterstosomeoft heirbanker sint
roduci ngsecondpl aint
iffto
theirbanker sthathehast hemandat eofthedef endantt oi nspectt hedef endant '
saccountwi th
av i
ewt odi scover i
ngexcesschar ges.Thepl ai
nt iff
sbegant hej obbyf irstdi scoveri
nganexcess
char geofN640, 365. 39ont heaccountoft hedef endantwi tht heUnionBank, Gbokobr anch.
Afterthedi scov er y,theUni onBankGbokoacknowl edgedt heexcesschar geandr ef undedsame
withal et t
erofapol ogy .Thepl ai
nt i
ffswr otetot hedef endanton27t h

102

Ni
ger
ianWeekl
yLawRepor
ts 9December2002 (
Muhammad,
J.C.
A.)

B
C

E
F

H
Febr uar y,
1992demandi ngthei rown50%commi ssi onont heamountdi scov er
edi .e.
N320, 182. 69.On27t hMar ch,1992t hedef endantwr otethepl aintif
f sandpai dthe50%
commi ssi
on.Ot herdi scov eri
eswer esubsequent lymadef rom variousbanksbyt hepl ai
nti
ffs.
Thepl ainti
ffsmadei tcleartot hedef endantt hatitwasent i
tl
edt oint erestonanysuchexcess
char gewhi choughtt obepai dwi thin14day sofdi scov eryal ongwi tht hepr incipalsum
discov eredi naccor dancewi thsect i
on10( f)Cent ral BankofNi geriaMonet ar yandCr edi
tPol i
cy
Guidel ines( 1992Fi scaly ear)acopyofwhi chwasmadeav ai
labletot hedef endant sfor
conf ir
mat ion.Plaintiff
sconv ey edt hisinformat ionwi ththei rl
etterdat ed7t hJanuar y,1992
whichcameaboutasar esultofv erbal di
scussi onbet weent hesecondpl aintif
fandt hethen
Gener al Manager( FinanceandAdmi nistr
ation)oft hedef endant .Pur suantt ot hepay mentof
theexcesschar gebyt heUni onBankandt heCent r al Bank' sguidelinest hedef endant s
demandedf rom theUni onBanki nter estont heamountr ecov er
ed.Thedef endantl aterwai ved
thei nterestr eal
isablefrom t heUni onBank.Thet ot al commi ssionduet ot hepl ai
ntiffsfr
om t he
defendantonal ltheamountdi scov eredwi thinterest swhi chremai nedunpai dbyt hedef endant
i
si nt hesum ofN4, 369,747.30( Fourmi ll
i
on, threehundr edandsi xtyni net housand, seven
hundr edandf or
tysev ennai ra, thi
rtykobo) .Itwasaf teral ldemandst opayt hesum duet othe
plaintiffsfailed,
thepl aintif
fst ookoutawr i
tofsummonsagai nstt hedef endant .

Init
sstatementofdef encethedefendantdeniedallt
heclai
msandstatedthatt
heplai
nti
ff
sdid
notperformt hei
rworkinaccordancewi t
ht heter
msst i
pul
atedi
nexhibi
tB.The10%inter
estdi
d
notform partofthei
rdiscussi
on.Fail
urebyt hepl
aint
if
fstoperf
ormtheirj
obenti
tl
edthem t
ono
clai
m atall
,asplaint
if
fsdidnotclaim partperf
ormanceintheal
ter
nati
ve.

Aft
ertakingev i
dencefrom t
hepart
ies,t
helearnedtri
alJudgeenteredjudgmentinfavourofthe
pl
aint
iff
si nthesum ofonemi l
l
ionandfift
yeightthousand,f
ivehundredandeightyfournai
ra,
fi
vekobo( N1,058,
584.5k)and10%inter
estofthejudgmentsum f r
om Mar ch,
1995t i
llt
he
amountisf ull
ypaid.
Dissat
isf
ied,
thedef
endantappeal
edtothiscourtonsi
xgr oundsofappeal.Threeaddit
ional
groundswerewithl
eaveofthi
scourt,
lat
erfi
led.Theplai
ntif
fsaswellweredissati
sfi
ed.They
cross-
appeal
ed.TheappealwastakenunderOrder6rule9(e)oft
heCourtofAppeal Rules,
1981(asamended).

[
2002]17NWLR

B.
C.C.Pl
c.v
.SkyI
nsp.(
Nig.
)Lt
d. (
I.T.Muhammad,
J.C.
A.)

103

C
D

E
F

H
I
nit
'sbr
iefofar
gumentf
il
edi
nthi
scour
t,t
heappel
l
antf
ormul
atedt
hef
oll
owi
ngi
ssues:
-

"
(i
)

Whether,havi
nghel
dthatt
heorigi
nalt
ransacti
onbythepar t
iesdi
dnotcreatelegal
relati
onshi
p
betweenthem andi
ntheabsenceofanyclaiminthealt
ernativ
e,t
hetri
alcourtwasrighti
n
conti
nui
ngt oconsi
derf
urt
hercontr
act
ual r
elat
ionshi
psbasedont hesamedocument sorone
ofthem andther
ebyfi
ndi
nganewcont racti
nacount er
-of
fer.

(
ii
)

Whethert
hetr
ialJudgewasri
ghti
nmakinganewcontr
actforthepar
ti
esi
ntheabsenceofany
cl
aimintheal
ter
nativ
eorevi
dencei
nsuppor
tofthenewcontract
.

(
ii
i)

Whet herfrom t
hetotal
ityoft
heevi
dence,i
ncl
udingoral
anddocumentaryevi
denceandthe
conductoft hepar
tiesinthi
scasether
ewasav ali
dacceptancebyt
herespondent
sasoffer
ee,
consistentwit
hthet er
msofof f
eri
nexhibi
tBsoast oconsti
tut
eavali
dagreementbet
weent he
part
ies.

(
iv)

Whet
hert
her
ewaspr
operbasi
sfort
heawar
dof10%i
nter
estt
otakeef
fectf
rom Mar
ch,
1995.
(
v)

Whethert
hejudgmentoft het
ri
alcour
tgi
venoutsi
det hest
atut
oryperi
odoft hr
eemonthsfrom
thedat
eofcounseladdressesdoesnotv
iol
atesecti
on258(1)oftheConstit
uti
onofFeder
al
Republ
icofNiger
ia1979(asamended)andoccasionedamiscarr
iageofjusti
ce.

(
vi)

Whethert
hejudgmentofthet
ri
alcour
tisconci
seandar
esul
tofpr
operev
aluat
ionofaccept
ed
andcredi
bleev
idencebef
orei
t.
"

Ther
espondent
stoo,
fil
edt
hei
rbr
iefofar
gumentandf
ormul
atedt
hef
oll
owi
ngi
ssues:
-

"
(i
)

Whet
herpl
aint
if
fs(
respondent
s)werenotenti
tl
edtoj
udgmentespeci
all
yint
hef
aceof
admi
ssi
onofthecontr
actandit
sbreachbytheappel
l
ant'
ssol
ewi t
ness.

(
ii
)

Whet
hertheplai
nti
ff
s/r
espondent
swerenotenti
tl
edtothe10%int
erestawar
dedwhent
her
e
wasnochall
engeordefencef
rom t
heappel
lantagai
nsti
tsawar
d.

(
ii
i)

Whet hert
herewasami scarr
iageofj
ust
icewhenjudgmentwasdeli
ver
edonl
yfour(4)days
outsi
destatutor
yper
iodofthree(3)monthsf
rom thedat
eoffi
naladdr
essbycounsel-sect
ion
258(4)ofthe1979Constit
uti
on

104

Ni
ger
ianWeekl
yLawRepor
ts 9December2002 (
Muhammad,
J.C.
A.)

A
B

C
D

F
G

oft
heFeder
alRepubl
i
cofNi
ger
ia(
asamended)
."

Anot i
ceofcross-appealwhichcontainsthreegroundswer
efi
ledbytherespondents/
cross-
appell
ants.Bri
efinrespectofthecross-appealwasembeddedbythecross-appel
l
antsinthei
r
respondents'
brief
.Theyf or
mulatedtwoi ssues,vi
z:
-

"
(i
)
Whetherhav
ingregardtotheadmissi
onsoftheappell
ant
'
ssol
ewi
tnesst
her
espondent
swer
e
notent
itl
edtothejudgmentoftheent
iresum cl
aimed.

(
ii
)

Whetheraf
tercor
rect
lyhol
dingthattheappel
lantsabandonedthei
rpl
eadi
ngs(defence)t
het
ri
al
Judgewasrightt
orel
yontheunpl eadedfact
soft heappell
ant
'
ssolewit
ness'
evidenceto
ref
usetheawardofsomeoft heclai
msoft herespondents.
"

Theappel lant /cross- r

espondentdi dnotf i
leasepar at ebriefinrespectoft hecr oss-appeal.
Howev er,lear nedcounsel fortheappel lant /cross-respondentf i
ledar eplybr i
efinanswert o
somepoi nt sr aisedbyt her espondent s/cr oss-appel lant sandchoset omakesomer esponses
underpar agr aph1. 04ofhi sr epl
ybr i
efinr espectoft hecr oss-appeal .Letmeconsi dert hemai n
appeal f
ir
st .Ipr efert oadoptt herespondent '
sissuesast heyappearcompr ehensiveenought o
coverallthei ssuesr aisedbyt heappel l
ant .Anx- rayoft heissuesf ormul atedbyt heappel lant
willr
eveal,inmyper ception,thatappel l
ant s' i
ssuesNos.( i
),(i
i),
( i
ii)and( vi
)wer epr emisedon
theformat ion/ exist
enceofacont ractbet weent hepar t
ies.Thesei ssuescanmat chwi th
respondent s' i
ssueNo.( i)
.Appel l
ant '
sissueNo.( i
v)mat cheswi t hr espondent sissueNo.( i
i)and
appell
antsi ssueNo.( v )mat cheswi threspondent si ssueNo.( ii
i).Itisinstructi
vealsot o
observethatl earnedcounsel fortheappel lant,itappear s,arguedal ltheissueshef ormulat edin
alumpsum, atonce.Hedi dnott akethepai nstosepar atewhi char gumentbel ongst owhat
i
ssue.Thi si snott i
dyenoughandi snoti naccor dwi tht heformatofbr iefwr i
ti
ng.But ,bethatas
i
tmay , t
hiscour thasar esponsibil
ity,andwi l
lattemptt omaket hebesti tcanoutofanybr ief
howev erbadl ywr i
tten.See: Ademol ajuv .Adeni pekun( 1999)1NWLR( Pt.587)440; Acme
Buil
dersLt d.v .K. S.
W. B.(1999)2NWLR( Pt.590)288; I
gboiduv .I gboidu( 1999)1NWLR( Pt .
585)27.

IssueNo.(i
)isonthefor
mationofacontractandbreachther
eofbythepart
ies.I
tisthe
content
ionoflear
nedcounselfort
heappell
antthathavi
ngheldthatt
herespondents'l
ett
erof
offer(
exhi
bitA)dif
fer
edsubstanti
all
ywi
ththeappellant
'sl
ett
erofaccept
ance

[
2002]17NWLR

B.
C.C.Pl
c.v
.SkyI
nsp.(
Nig.
)Lt
d. (
I.T.Muhammad,
J.C.
A.)

105
A

C
D

F
G

(Exhi
bitB)onf undamental
ter
ms,thelearnedtr
ial Judgeoughttohav edismissedthe
respondents'cl
aim duet
olackofconsensusadi dem, havi
ngfoundt hatexhibi
tBdoesnot
consti
tuteav al
idaccept
anceofexhi
bitAandasi tisacounter
-offer
.Itwaswr ongofthe
l
earnedtrialJudgetohavenamedthe" deadcontract"asa"counter-
offer
",andfoundthe
i
ntentionoftheparti
estherein.Lear
nedcounselar
guedfurtherthati
twaswr ongofthel
earned
tr
ialJudgetohav esuomot usubst i
tut
edthecaseoftherespondentswit
hhisowncont r
actand
advi
sedt hattherespondentsshouldnotinsi
stonfoundi
ngt hei
rclai
m onexhibi
tAbuton
exhi
bitB.dentsshouldnotinsistonfoundi
ngthei
rclai
m onexhibitAbutonexhibitB.

Thear gument sputf orwardbythelearnedcounself

ortherespondentsi
sthatthelearnedtr
ial
Judgewasr i
ghtwhenhef oundthattherewasav al
i
dcontractbetweentheparti
es.Eventhough
exhi
bit'B' cancell
edt heoff
erinexhibi
tA, t
hatf
actdoesnotmeant hatexhi
bitBbecame
i
rrel
evant .Thelear nedtr
ialJudgewasr i
ghtwhenheheldthatexhibi
tBwasacount er-
off
erand
i
twasopent or espondentstoacceptsameandt hemomentt herespondent
swentt oworkaft
er
thereceiptofexhi bitB,t
hatconsti
tutedaccept
ancetothecounter-
offer
.

Itisonl
yfai
rwhiletr
eat
ingi
ssueNo.1,todeter
mi newhataval
idcont
racti
nlawi s.Thisi
swith
av iewt
odetermini
ngaswellwhethert
hereexi
stedavali
dcontr
actbetweenthepar t
iesand
breachther
eof,andbywhom,ifany.Acontr
acti
nl awi
ssaidtobevali
dwhent hefoll
owing
elementsexi
st:
-

(
i)

Agr
eement-whi
chconsi
stsofof
ferandaccept
ance

(
ii
)

Consider ation-whichhasbeendef i
nedassomer i
ght,i
nterest,
orbenef i
taccrui
ngtot heone
part
y ,orsomef orbearance,det
riment ,l
oss,orr
esponsibil
itygiv
en, suff
eredorundertakenby
theotherathi srequest.See:Curriev.Misa(1875)L.R10Ex- 153at162; Flemingv.BankofNew
Zealand( 1900)A.C577at586.I tisnotnecessarythatt
hepr omi sershouldbenefi
tbyt he
consider ati
on.Itissuffi
cienti
fthepr omiseedoessomeactf rom whi chathir
dpersonbenefi
ts,
andwhi chhewoul dnothav eordinari
lydonebutforthepr omise.Baileyv.Cr
oft(1812)4Taunt
611;Al huseav .Prest(1851)6Exch. 720.

(
ii
i)

Int
enti
ontocr
eat
elegalr
elationbetweenthepart
ies-Thegener
alrul
ehereist
hatan
agreementwi
l
lnotbeenforcedunlessitevi
ncesanint
enti
ontocreat
elegal
106

Ni
ger
ianWeekl
yLawRepor
ts 9December2002 (
Muhammad,
J.C.
A.)

C
D

F
G

r
elati
ons.Rose&Fr ankCo.v.J.R.Cr
ompton&Br os.Lt
d.(1923)2KB261at282.Suchan
i
ntenti
onwillusual
l
ybei nf
err
edf r
om t
hepresenceofconsider
ati
on.
Anagr eementi nacont ract,consensusadi dem ( meet i
ngoft hemi nds) ,isusual lyr eachedby
thepr ocessofof f
erandaccept ance.Thel awr equi rest hatt hereshoul d,inacont r
act , bean
offeronascer tainablet ermswhi chshoul drecei veanunqual ifi
edaccept ancef rom t heper sont o
whom i tismade.Anof f erisanexpr essi on( expr essori mpl ied)byoneper sonorgr oupof
persons, orbyagent sonhi sbehal f, madet oanot her ,ofhi swi l
lingnesst obeboundt oa
cont ractwi ththatot heront ermsei thercer t
ai norcapabl eofbei ngr ender edcer tain.Agener al
rul
eat tachingt oanof feri sthati tshoul dbecommuni cat edt otheot herpar tyinor dert hati ts
accept ancemayconst ituteacont ract .See: Raebur n&Ver elv.Bumess&Sons( 1895)1Lonem
Cas22.Anot heri mpor tantrul e( ofr elev ancet ot hisappeal )ist hatanof f
ermayber ev okedat
any ti
mebef oreithasbeenaccept ed, providedt hatt her ev ocationi scommuni cat edt ot he
offeree.Thepowert oacceptanof fermaybet ermi nat edbyanyunambi guousi ntimat ion,
expr essori mpl i
edbyt heof f ereet ot heof fer orthather ejectst heof fer.Thor nbur yv .Bev i
l(1842)
1Y&C.Ch.Cas554; l
innv .Hof fman&Co.( 1873)29L. T.271at278.Anaccept anceont he
otherhand, i
sani ndicationexpr essori mpl i
edbyt heof fereemadewhi lstt heof ferr emai ns
openandi nt hemannerr equest edi nt hatof feroft heof feree'swi lli
ngnesst obebound
uncondi t
ional l
yt oacont r
actwi t
ht heof feroront het ermsst atedi ntheof fer.Tay lorv .Al lon
(1966)1Q. B304.Andwher et heof f erormakesmor et hanoneof fer,theof fereemustst ate
whi chof ferhei saccept i
ng.See: Pet erLi nd&Co.v .Mer seyDocks&Har bourBoar d( 1972)2
LlyodsRep.234.Ther ear ev ariousmodesofaccept inganof f
er :bypr omi se;bysi l
ence; byact
orper f
ormanceorbyal ternat i
vemodesasmaybeenshr i
nedi nt heof fer.Her eal so, an
accept ancemustbecommuni cat edt otheof ferorandi tisnotcommuni cat edunt i
l itisact uall
y
broughtt othenot iceoft heof feror .Anof fercannotbeaccept edcondi ti
onal l
y,theof fereehas
powert oacceptonl yont het ermsst atedi nt heof f
er .Ellesmer eBr ewer yCo.v .Cooper( 1896)1
Q.B75.Imustal socommentonat er m whi chhasr elev ancei nt heappeal i
.e."count er -
of f
er "
.A
count er -
offerisast atementbyt heof fer
eewhi chhast hel egal effectofr ejectingt heof ferand
ofpr oposi nganewof fert ot heof fer or .Itput sanendt ot hepr ev i
ousof feroft hei nitial of feror.
Ar ulet hatmustber eckonedwi thher eis

[
2002]17NWLR

B.
C.C.Pl
c.v
.SkyI
nsp.(
Nig.
)Lt
d. (
I.T.Muhammad,
J.C.
A.)

107

A
B

D
E

G
H

thatthereshal
lbenocount
er-
offerunlessi
tcreat
esapowerofacceptanceintheprevi
ous
offeror
.See:E.G.Bi
shop&BaxterLtd.v.Angl
oeaster
nTr
adi
ng&I ndustri
alCo.Ltd.(
1944)KB
12( 1943)2ALLER,598.

Ifounditper
ti
nenttost
artwi
ththeaboveelementar
ypr
inci
plesoftheLawofCont
ractbecause
each,especi
all
ytheagr
eement,
hasal otofbear
ingont
heappeal onhand.

Thesubmi ssionoflear
nedcounsel fortheappell
antisthatastherewasnoconsensusadi dem
betweenthepar ti
estothecontractinthei
rtermsofof f
erandacceptance, t
helearnedtri
al
Judgeoughtt ohavedi
smissedt herespondents'cl
aim.Learnedcounselfortherespondent
s
wasont hesi deofthel
earnedtrialJudgethattherewasav ali
dcontract
.Thef i
ndingofthe
l
earnedtri
al Judgeonthisissuereadsasf ol
lows:-

"
Iti
smyv i
ewfr
om theev
idencebefor
emet hatwhenpl
aint
iffreceivedexhibi
t'
B'and
pr
oceededt
otheassi
gnmentt
heyhadproposedinexhi
bit'
A't
heyacceptedt hecounter-
off
erin
exhi
bit'
B'.
..
..Ther
ewasav
ali
dlegal
cont
ractbet
weenpl
aint
if
fsanddef
endantbutbasedon
exhi
bit'
B'andnot'A'
.
"

Thei ni
tial
of f
ermadetotheappell
antbytherespondentswascont ainedinexhibi
tA.Exhi
bitA
wast hepr oposalwr
it
tenbythe1strespondentt
ot hedefendantfortherecover
yof
unconv enti
onalbankchar
gesont heaccountsofthedefendant.Thatdocumentwaspl eadedin
paragraph5oft heamendedstatementofclaim.I
nhi sevi
dencebef orethelowercour
t,PW1
stated:
-

"On24/9/91,
weappl i
edtobetheconsult
antsofBCCPl c.,
onunconvent
ionalchargesonthe
defendant
saccount.Wemadeapr oposaltothedefendanttot
hatef
fect
.Wespel toutclear
ly
ourmodeofoper at
ionint
hist
ypeofassignment.Wemadet hepr
oposalinwrit
ing.Ihavea
copyoftheproposalwemadeincourt.Theproposalemanatedfr
om myof f
icesoIwi l
li
denti
fy
i
tifseen."

Thelearnedtri
alJudgef
oundthedocumentadmi ssi
blei
nev i
denceandadmi tt
edandmar kedit
asexhibit'
A'
.PW1asser t
edt
hatthei
rproposalwasr epli
edbyt hedefendant
.Thereplywas
admi t
tedinevi
denceasexhi
bit'
B'
.Thus,exhi
bits'A'and'B'
wer ethedocumentsthatwer e
regardedtofor
mt hebasi
softhecontr
actualagreementbetweent heparti
es.But
,thelearned
tri
alJudge

108

Ni
ger
ianWeekl
yLawRepor
ts 9December2002 (
Muhammad,
J.C.
A.)

B
C

D
E

G
H

concl
uded,
aft
erhav
ingcar
eful
l
yst
udi
edt
hecont
ent
soft
heseexhi
bit
sthat
:

"
Iti
scert
ainf
rom t
heoff
erandaccept
ancei
nexhi
bit
s'A'
and'
B't
hatt
her
ewasnotconsensusi
d
i
dem bet
weenthepar
ti
es."

I
notherwords,
thepart
ieswerecr
oss-
pur
posedast
he"
accept
ance"i
nexhi
bit'
B'v
ari
esf
rom t
he
t
ermsoftheoffer
.Exhi
bit'
A'pr
ovi
des:
-

"
SKYI
NSPECTI
ONNI
GERI
ALTD

No.13,
Aki
nyel
est
reet
,
Aguda-
Sur
uler
e,

Lagos.

Tel
.863532

OurRef
.012/
BCC/
2/91

Dat
e24t
hSept
.1991.

TheGener
alManager
,(F&A)

BenueCementCompanyPl
c.,

P.
M.B.063Gboko.

DearSi
r,

RECOVERYOFUNCONVENTI
ONALBANKCHARGESONYOURACCOUNTS

Wear eaFinancialConsult
ingoutf
itof
feri
ngawi derangeofmoneyser
vicesforpubli
cand
pri
vatesect
oror gani
sati
ons.Inthebel
iefthatwecanbeofservi
cetoyourcompany .Weare
herebysubmitt
ingapr oposalf
orourofferofser
v i
cesfory
ourconsi
der
ation.

Ourexper
iencei
nser
viceoftheki
ndthatweofferl
eadsustobel
iev
ethatyourcompanyis
pr
obablyowedmoneyasar esul
tofappl
icat
ionofi
nfl
atedr
atesasagai
nsttherat
esprescr
ibed
byt
heCent
ral
BankofNi
ger
iat
ari
ffoncompanyaccount
s.

SERVI
CEAPPROACH

Ourcompanywi l
lexami neandaccuratelyworkouttheexcesschargesonyourcurrent
account sandshor t
-payment sofint
erestony ourdeposi
ts,i
ncl
udi
ngdepositsmadeagai nst
ForeignExchangeOper ati
ons.Weshal lalsoexamineanddeter
minemoni eslostasar esultof
technicalerror
smadebyy ourBankers.Yourcompanywi ll
beexpectedt
omakeav ail
abletoour
company ,copi
esofal l
BankSt atement sfrom y
ourBankers.

Weshal
lreconci
l
echar
gespai
dbyy
out
oyourbanker
swi
th

[
2002]17NWLR

B.
C.C.Pl
c.v
.SkyI
nsp.(
Nig.
)Lt
d. (
I.T.Muhammad,
J.C.
A.)

109

B
C

D
E

G
H

tar
if
fsti
pul
ati
onsofC.B.
Nandsowor kouttheextent(
bymoneyv ol
ume)ofoverchar
ging.Our
companymayalsorequi
relet
tersofauthor
it
yfrom youtoenabl
euschecktheveraci
tyof
cert
ainent
ri
esmadeont heaccounts.

Analysi
sofexcesschar
gesandshort
-payment
sestabl
ishedwi
llbepr
esent
edtoyourcompany
bywayofar eportandy
ouwil
lberequir
edtowrit
eyourBanker
sdemandingref
undofthese
excesschar
ges.

RESOURCEREQUI
REMENT

Ourcompanypersonnel
wil
lrequi
refaci
l
iti
es(usual
lyoneroom wit
htabl
esandchai r
s)i
nsi
de
yourpr
emises.Wefindt
hatiti
sbesttoworkincli
ent'spr
emisesasthi
sreducestheheedto
carr
yvi
tal
document sar
ound.Becausethejobi
sout si
deLagos,y
ouwillberequi
redtopr
ovi
de
accommodat
ionandt
ranspor
tat
ionf
orourcompanyper
sonnel
.

Ourserviceswil
l costy
ourcompanynot hi
nginfees.Ourcompany
'sser
viceisfr
eei
fnoexcess
chargeisdiscovered.I
f,howev
er,thereisexcesscharge,
ourcompanywill
recei
ve50%(
fif
ty
percent
)oft heexcesschargediscovered.

Webel i
evethatyouwi
llgi
veourcompanyt heopportuni
tyt owor
kwi t
hyouint
hisimpor
tant
pr
oject.Pl
easedonothesit
atetocont
actusf orfur
therinformat
ion.Wear
eagreeabl
eto
meetingwit
hy outocl
ari
fyanyi
ssuesari
singf r
om thisproposal
.

Wer
emai
n,

Your
sfai
thf
ull
y,

SKYI
NSPECTI
ONNI
GERI
ALTD.

SGD

St
ateCo-
ordi
nat
or.
"

Exhi
bitBpr
ovi
des:
-

"BENUECEMENTCOMPANYLTDGMFA.
FD/
108/
301/
91 29t
hNov
ember
,
1991

TheSt
ateCo-
ordi
nat
or,
SkyI
nspect
ionNi
ger
iaLi
mit
ed,

No.13,
Aki
nyel
eSt
reet
,

Aguda-Sur
uler
e,

Lagos.

DearSi
r,

RECOVERYOFUNCONVENTI
ONALBANKCHARGESONOURACCOUNTS

110

Ni
ger
ianWeekl
yLawRepor
ts 9December2002 (
Muhammad,
J.C.
A.)

B
C

D
E

G
H

Werefert
oy ourl
ett
erNumber012/BCC/2/91of24thSept
ember
,1991andherebyconveyto
you,
yourappoint
mentasourconsul
tanttorecov
erall
unconv
ent
ional
bankchargessuf
feredby
usfr
om all
ourbanks.

Yourfeeswi
l
lbe50%ofwhat
every
ourecov
erandwhiley
ouar
ewor
kingi
nGboko,
wewi
l
l
accommodateandf
eed,
notmoret
hantwopersons.

Ot
herdet
ail
soft
hescopeofwor
kshoul
dbedi
scussedwi
tht
heunder
signed.

Your
sfai
thf
ull
y,

BenueCementCompanyPl
c.
SGD

J.I
.ICHAVER,

GENERALMANAGER(
F&A)

cc: Asst
.Gener
alManager(
Finance)

Chi
efFi
nanci
alAccount
ant

Chi
efI
nter
nal
Audi
tor
."

Iti
sclearf r
om thet woexhibit
sthatwher easexhi bi
t'
A'providesinpar agr
aph3,4,
5and7, onthe
servi
ceappr oachwi thspecialr
eferencet oDI SCOVERY, paragraphs1and2ofexhi bit'
B'
emphasi sesonRECOVERY.Thet wot ermsar enotidenti
cal.Theirconsequencesar enotthe
same.Inl i
newi ththegeneralprinciplesgov erni
nganagr eementf ortheformati
onofacont ract
,
i
tisther equir
ementoft helawthatt heoffereehast omakeani ndicati
onofhisunqual i
fi
ed
acceptanceoft heof f
ermadebyt heof ferorinthemannerr equestedbyt helat
teront heter
ms
stat
edi ntheoffer.Taylorv.All
on( supra).

Anyaddi tionorsubt ractionont hetermsoft heofferisanal t

erati
ont otheter msandamount s
toat otalrejecti
onoft heofferbytheof feree.Thetermsembeddedi nrejecti
onmayf ormthe
basisfort hef ormati
onofanewagr eement .Thisiswhatamount stoacount er -
off
er.Acounter-
offerisanof f
er.Ithast hechar act
eristi
csandconsequencesofanor mal offer.Soal soit
s
acceptance.I tcanbeaccept edorrejectedbyt hepreviousof f
eror(nowof feree).Thisi swhat
exactlytranspi r
edint hiscase.Thef indingofthelearnedt ri
alJudgei sthatexhi bi
t'B' i
sa
counter-offerandast her espondentscommencedwor konr eceiptofexhibit'B'withoutany
protesttheywer etakent ohav eaccept edthecount erofferinexhibit'
B'.Certainl
y,the
commencementofwor kbyt herespondent swithoutfurthernegot i
ati
onisaconcr ete
acceptanceoft hepr oposal inthecount er
-
[
2002]17NWLR

B.
C.C.Pl
c.v
.SkyI
nsp.(
Nig.
)Lt
d. (
I.T.Muhammad,
J.C.
A.)

111

C
D

F
G

H
offer.Thi sisaccept ancebyconductorbyper for mance.Andast helear nedcounsel fort he
respondent sargued, thiskindofaccept ancecanbedonebyi ndiv i
dualsorcor por ateent i
ties.
See: A. -G.,KadunaSt at ev .At ta&Or s.( 1986)4NWLR( Pt.38)785; Maj ekodunmi v.Nat i
onal
Bank( Ni g.)Ltd.(1978)3SC119; Har v eyv .Johnst on&Son( 1848)6C. B295at305; St evenv .
Broml ey&Son( 1919)2KB722at728; Weat her ebyv .Banham ( 1832)5C&P.228; Br ogdenv .
Met ropol i
tanRailway( 1877)2APP.Cas666.Seeal sosect i
on71( 1)&( 2)oft heCompani esand
Alli
edMat t
ersAct ,Cap.59, Lawsoft heFeder ationofNi geria,1990.If indi tr atherdi f
ficul tto
agreewi ththelearnedcounsel fortheappel lantwhenhear guedt hatthel ear nedt rialJudgesuo
-mot usubst it
utedt hecasef ort herespondent sbyf indingacount er-
offer .Anof fer,an
accept anceoracount er off
erar egener alpr i
nci plesofl awenshr inedint hegener al l
awof
contract swhi chat rial Judgehasr ightt opr onounceupon.Fur ther more, inhi sev idenceDW1
statedt hataround1992t hedef endantcont racted1stpl aintif
frepr esentedby2ndpl aint i
fft o
l
ooki ntobankchar gesi mposedondef endantbyt heirbanker swi t
hav i
ewt or ecoveringexcess
orwr ongchar ges.Whent heygotpl aint iff
'spr oposal ,theyst udiedsameandgav ewr itten
responsecommi ssioni ng1stpl ai
ntifft odot hewor kf orthem andexhi bi tBwasi dent ifiedby
DW1ast heonlyaut hent icl
et terthatcommi ssionedpl aintif
ftodot hewor k.Icannotseehow
thelear nedt r
ialJudgesubst itutedthecasef ort her espondent s.Thef act sofwhatt r
anspi red
reveal edar ej
ectionoft heor iginalof ferbyt heof feree.Idonotknowabet ternamet ocal lanew
proposal byanof fereewhodeci dest or ej
ectanof fermadet ohim byt hepr eviousof fer or,than
acount eroffer.Ont hi sbasi s, Icannotf aul tthehol dingoft helear nedt ri
al Judgeont hei ssue.I
resolv ei ssueonei nf av ouroft herespondent s.

IssueNo.2i sonthe10%inter
est.Rel
iefNo.2oftherespondent
sclaim asksfor10%
i
nter
estont hesum claimedbegi
nningfrom March,1995unti
ltheent
iresum wasf ul
lyand
f
inal
lypaid.Thelearnedtr
ial
Judgegrantedsamei nhisj
udgmentt ot
her espondentsIthi
nk
whatshouldbeconsi der
edinaclai
m ofinter
estaretwo:

(
a)

whet
heri
nter
esti
sasofr
ightor

(
b)

whetheri
nter
esti
sconferr
edbyastatut
e.I
nBenueStat
e,therelev
antstatut
ewhichall
owsthe
cour
tstoawardint
erestasincat
egor
y(b)i
stheBenueStateHighCourt(Civ
ilPr
ocedur
e)Rules
1988.Or
der40r
ule7t
her
eofpr
ovi
des:
-

112

Ni
ger
ianWeekl
yLawRepor
ts 9December2002 (
Muhammad,
J.C.
A.)

C
D

F
G

H
"Thecourtattheti
meofmaki nganyj udgmentoror der,
oratanyti
meaf terwards,
maydi r
ectt
he
ti
mewi thi
nwhi cht
hepay mentorotheractistobemadeordone, reckonedf r
om thedateof
j
udgmentoror der,orfr
om someot herpointoftime,asthecour
tthinksfitandmayor der
i
nterestataratenotexceedi
ngtennai r
apercent um perannum t
obepai duponanyj udgment,
commenci ngfrom thedat
ethereoforafterwards,asthecasemaybe. "

Asf ortheoneincat egory( a)abov e,i

ti st
heki ndofi nterestwhichhasbeencont emplat edby
agreementbet weent hepar ti
esorunderamer cant i
l
ecust om orunderpr incipleofequi t
ysuch
asbr eachofaf iduciaryr
el ationship.Forthecl ai
m ofsuchi nteresttopr operlyexi stfor
determinati
oninacour tofl aw, itmustbest atedi ntheendor sementoft hecl aimst ot hewr itof
summonsorpl eadedi nthest at
ementofcl aim whet herbasedoncont r
actorst atuteandt he
groundsuponwhi cht hecl aimi sbased.See: Ekwuni fev.Way ne( WestAf rica)Lt d.(1989)5
NWLR( Pt.122)422at445.Thei nterestclaimedbyt herespondent sandawar dedbyt het rial
court,i
nmyv i
ew, isthekindwhi chf allsundercat egory(a)abov et hatisonewhi chhasbeen
contemplatedbyt heparties.Iper usedt hest at
ementofcl aim.If oundthatapar tf r
om t hemer e
clai
m ont heinteresttherei snoav ermentpl eadingt hefactsoft heinterestcl aimed.I nhi s
testi
mony ,PW1endedupont heinteresti
ssuepr ayi
ngf or:

"ani
nter
estof10%oft
heamountowedusf
rom Mar
ch,
1995t
il
ldat
e.Wecl
aim 10%per
annum."

Thel
ear
nedt
ri
alJudge'
sconcl
usi
onont
hei
nter
estcl
aimedr
eadsasf
oll
ows:
-

'
Therei
snocontestof10%i
nterestclai
m bythepl
aint
if
fontheamountduetothem.The
i
nter
estof10%isawardedt
oplainti
ff
sont heamountawardedasf
rom march,
1995til
lthedat
e
t
heamountifful
lypai
d."

Iagreewiththelear
nedcounsel fortheappell
antinhissubmissionbothinhismainandr epl
y
bri
efsthattherewasnobasi slaidforthecl
aim oftheint
erestandthattherespondent
sdi dnot
proveit
.Iti
st r
uethatexhi
bit'B'thebasisoft
henewcont r
actdidnotcreateforthe10%interest
.
Ifi
ndsuppor ti
nwhatOnu, JSC, saidinHimmaMer chant
sLtdv .Al
iyu(1994)5NWLR( Pt.347)
667atpage677par as.B-
D:-

[
2002]17NWLR
B.
C.C.Pl
c.v
.SkyI
nsp.(
Nig.
)Lt
d. (
I.T.Muhammad,
J.C.
A.)

113

C
D

F
G

"I
nNi ger
ia,
asthelawisthatastat
ementofclaim supersedesthewrit(forwhi
chsee
Udechukwuv .Okwuka(1956)1FSC70atpage71: (1956)SCNLR189; Ekpana&Anor.V.Uyo
(1986)3NWLR( Pt.26)63,i
fevenitwasnotclai
medont hewr
itbutfactsarepl
eadedinthe
stat
ementofclaim andevi
dencegivenwhi
chshowent i
tlementther
eto, t
hecourtmay,i
f
sat
isf
iedwi
tht
heev
idence,
awar
dint
erest
.

Adjudi
cati
onont heplai
ntif
f'
srightt
ointeresti
nsuchacasei sli
keonanyot heri
ssueinthe
casebasedont heevidenceplacedbeforethecourt
.Theevidencecall
edatthetr
iali
nsucha
casewill
alsoestabl
ishtheproperrateofinter
estandthedatefrom whi
chitshouldbegi
ntorun,
whetherfr
om theaccrualofcauseofact i
onorotherwi
se."

See:JallcoLtd.v.Owoni boysTechnical(1995)4NWLR( Pt.391)534,(1995)4SCNJ;256at

273-274; Alf
ort
ri
nLt d.v.A.
-G.,Federati
on(1996)9NWLR( Pt
.475)634, (
1996)12SCNJ236;
Berli
etv.Kachalla(1995)9NWLR( Pt.420)478,(
1995)12SCNJ147.Fur t
her,
iti
squit
eclear
alsofrom thesubmi ssionsoflearnedcounselforther
espondentsthatiti
sthetypei
ntendedby
thepar t
ies:-

"Thejudgmenti scl earont he10%i nterestissue.Atpage100oft herecord(

lines17-20),t
he
respondentst hroughPW1cl ai
medt wot ypesof10%i nter
est st
hus-10%i nt
er estoftheamount
from March, 1995, and10%i nterestperannum ont hejudgmentsum i nli
newi ththeBenue
StateHighCour t(Civi
lProcedure)Rules, 1988,Order40r ule7,underwhichtheJudgecoul d
award10%i nterestperannum onj udgmentsum.Thel earnedtri
alJudgeonlyawar dedoneout
ofthetwoi nterestsclaimedandt hatis10%i nterestmont hlyontheamountawar dedbegi
nning
from March1995ascl ai
medi nt hewr i
tandpl eadingswhi chclai
m wasnotcont est
ed."

Forthereasonsstatedabov
eandast henatureofthei
nterestawar
dedfall
soutsidethecour
t
di
screti
on,Iam oftheviewthatt
he10%interestint
hejudgmentwaswr onglyawardedasitwas
notbasedonanyknownpr i
ncipl
eoft
helaw.I ssueNo.
2fav our
stheappel
lant.

Tur
ningt
oissueNo.3,f
actsfr
om t
hepr
int
edr
ecor
dshowt
hatf
inal
addr
essesbyt
hepar
ti
es
wer
econcludedonthe30/
7/97.

114

Ni
ger
ianWeekl
yLawRepor
ts 9December2002 (
Muhammad,
J.C.
A.)

A
B

D
E

F
G

Judgmentoft hecourtwasdeliveredbyt helearnedt ri

alJudgeont he4/ 11/97.Complyingwi t
h
sect
ion258(1)oft he1979Const it
ution(whichwast heninoper at
ion)t helastdayforthetrial
courttodeli
verit
sjudgmentwast he29/ 10/97.Butjudgmentwasdel i
v eredon4/11/97aper i
od
ofalmost5day soutsidethestatutoryperiodofthreemont hsaspr ovidedbyt heConstitut
ion.
Learnedcounsel f
ortheappell
antar guedthatdeliveryoft hejudgmentout si
dethestatutor
y
peri
odoccasionedasubst anti
almi scarr
iageofjusticeandt hatt
het r
ial Judgeapparentl
ylost
tr
endoft heevidencebeforehi
m whenhehur ri
edlygav ejudgmentt oav oi
dextendi
ngt oofar
outsidethestat
utor
y3mont hsper i
od.Lear nedcounselfort
herespondent
ssubmitt
edt
hat
therewasnomi scarr
iageofjusti
cetot heappell
ant.Partofthet
imecomput edt
omakeupthe
peri
odoft hr
eemont hsandfourday sincludedtheperiodofthecourt
svacati
onfr
om mi
dJuly
toear l
ySeptember1997andt hatperi
odshoul dbediscounted.

Ithinkt hemat t
erofnon- deliveryofj udgmentwi t
hint hest atutoryper i
odhasf orlongbeen
settledandt helawi sv erycer t
ainont hat.Themer ef actt hatthej udgmentofacour twas
deliveredaf terthe3mont hsst ipulatedbysect i
on258oft heConst i
tutionoft heFeder at
ion
1979( asamended)i snotf at al.Anappeal courtcanst il
llookatsuchj udgmentandi fsatisf
ied
thatt hepart ycompl aininghasnotsuf f
eredami scarriageofj ustice,shal lal
lowt hejudgmentt o
stand.See: Ojokolobov .Alamu( 1987)3NWLR( Pt.61)377; Gaf ariv.Johnson( 1986)5NWLR
(Pt.39)66; Kpemav .St ate( 1986)1NWLR( Pt
.17)396; Awoy alev .JoshuaOgunbi yi (
1985)2
NWLR( Pt.10)861; Ifezuev .Mbadugha( 1984)1SCNLR427; Effiom v.St ate(1995)1NWLR( Pt.
373)507; Olokot i
nti
nv .Sar umi (
1997)1NWLR( Pt.480)222.I nt hepresentappeal ,t
he
appel lantwascer tainlyunabl et oshowhowsucha" shortdel ay"ofdel iveryofjudgmentcaused
themi scarr
iageal l
eged.Iam notal sofascinat
edbyt hear gumentofl ear nedcounsel forthe
respondentt hattheper iodofdel i
verywascaughtupbyt hev acat i
onper iodoft helowercour t
.

Vacat ionofthecourti
sapr act
icalaspect.Itmaynotbest ati
c.Theassert
ionrequi
resproofas
i
tisf oolhardyt
onoteperiodsofcour t
sv acationjudi
cial
l
y.Iti
snotthesamewi thaknownpubl i
c
holi
daywhi chhardlychanges.Inanyev entast heappell
antfai
ledtoshowhowt hedeli
veryof
thejudgmentout si
dethest at
utoryperi
odcausedhi m miscarr
iage,
Ihavenoreasontodeclarei
t
anullityorsetsameaside.Thepr omulgationofsection294(5)oftheConsti
tuti
onofthe
Feder alRepubl
icofNigeri
a,1999,hasnowf inall
yshowereda

[
2002]17NWLR

B.
C.C.Pl
c.v
.SkyI
nsp.(
Nig.
)Lt
d. (
I.T.Muhammad,
J.C.
A.)

115

A
B

D
E

F
G

l
ast
ingsol
uti
ont
othi
snaggi
ngi
ssue.Thesubsect
ionst
ates:
-

"
294 .
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..

(5) Thedecisi
onofacour
tshallnotbesetasi
deortr
eat
edasanulli
tysol
elyont
heground
ofnon-
compl
i
ancewitht
heprovi
sionsofsubsect
ion(
1)oft
hissect
ionunl
essthecour
t
exer
cisi
ngjur
isdi
cti
onbywayofappealorr
evi
ewofthatdeci
sioni
ssati
sfi
edt
hatt
hepar
ty
complai
ninghassuffer
edami
scarr
iageofj
usti
cebyreasont
hereof
."

I
ssueNo.3i
sher
ebyr
esol
vedi
nther
espondent
'
sfav
our
:

Nowconsi deringther espondent s'cross-appeal,thear gumentofl ear

nedcounsel fort hecross-
appell
antonhi sissue( i)ist hatsincet heappellantssol ewitnessadmi ttedt hecont ract
betweenappel lantandt her espondent '
sandsi ncehef urt
heradmi tt
edt he50%commi ssionof
theamount sdueespeci al
lyf rom theChar t
eredBankandFi deli
tyMer chantBankwer enotpai d
totherespondent s,thel earnedt ri
alJudgewasi ngr eater r
orwhenher ef usedt oawar dt hat
headofclaim ascont ainedi npar agraph44( b)&( d)oft heamendedst atementofcl aim.
Learnedcounsel f
orthecr oss- r
espondentsubmi ttedthatthelear nedt ri
al Judgewasr ightto
haverefusedt ograntt her espondent 'sclai
m onChar teredBanksi ncet herewasnor ecov eryof
anychargest herefrom asr equiredbyt heofferinex hi
bi tB.Ont heamountdi scov
er edf rom
Fidel
it
yMer chantBank, thel earnedt ri
alJudgef oundasf oll
ows: -

"PW1t esti
fi
edfurt
herthattheamountofov erN4,000,000.00wasdiscoveredfr
om Fideli
ty
MerchantBankasexcesschar ges.ThatFidel
it
ycont estedtheamountbutPW1def endedi tand
overN1mi ll
ionwasrecovered.DW1t estif
iedthattheyrecov er
edN1,123,
168.10kfr
om Fideli
ty
MerchantBank.Headmi t
tedthatnothingwaspai dtopl ai
nti
ffsont
hisamount .Pl
ainti
ff
sar e
enti
tl
edt oN561,584.
5k.Thisamounti sorderedtobepai dtothepl
ainti
ff
s."

Ont
hecl
aim madeagai
nstChar
ter
edBank,
thel
ear
nedt
ri
alJudgef
ound:
-

"Thedi
scoverymadeatChart
eredBankwasov erN2mi l
l
ion.Nothingwaspaidt
otheplai
nti
ff
s.
Therei
sevidenceofDW1thattheydi
dnotr ecoverthi
samountf rom Char
ter
edBankbecause
theBankcontest
edtheamountandrefusedtopay .Theplai
nti
ffadvisedt
hem

116

Ni
ger
ianWeekl
yLawRepor
ts 9December2002 (
Muhammad,
J.C.
A.)

A
B

D
E

G
H

torepor
tthemat t
ertot
heCentr
alBankbutt
heydidnotdoso.Ast her
eisnoevidencet
hatany
amountwasr ecover
edfr
om t
hisbankduetonofaultorconni
vanceofdef
endant,t
hecour
thas
decli
nedtoawardanyamounttoplai
nti
ff
sonthi
sfigure.
"

Now,
Imustagr
eewi
tht
hel
ear
nedt
ri
alJudge'
shol
dingasabov
eforanumberofr
easons:
-

(
a)

Thecontractwhi
chbindstheparti
esi sascontai
nedinexhi
bitBwhichi
sthecount
er-
off
er
acceptedbyconductbythecross-appel
lant
s.Havingsoaccept
ed,t
hecross-
appel
l
antscannot
nowr esi
lefr
om i
tster
msasi tistoolatetodoso.
(
b)

Thebi
ndi
ngt
ermsi
nexhi
bit'
B'ar
e:

(
i)

Recover
yofunconv
ent
ional
bankchar
gesf
rom al
lcr
oss-
respondent
'sBankAccounti
nal
lthei
r
banks.

(
ii
)

Feespay
abl
etot
hecr
oss-
appel
l
ant
sat50%ofwhat
evert
heyr
ecov
ered.

Theemphasi sher eist hatt hecr oss-appellantswer econt ract edt or ecov erunconv enti
onal
char gesoncr oss- respondent '
saccounti nv ariousbanksandt hatcr oss- appel l
antswer eonly
entitledt o50%pay mentofwhat everwasr ecov eredi nt hepr ocess.Thus, Icannotseehowt he
l
ear nedt ri
alJudgecoul dbewr ongwhenhe, forinst ance, awar dedt heexact50%oft he
establ ishedamountr ecov er edf r
om t heFidel i
tyMer chantBank.I fther ewasnopay mentoft hat
amounti .
e.N561, 584. 5kbei ng50%ofN1, 123, 168.10kf rom t hecr ossr espondent , thatdoesnot
meant hatthel ear nedt rialJudgef ail
edi nhisr esponsi bil
ity.Indeedt hel ear nedt ri
al Judgehas
donehi sjob.Howt or ecov ert heamountadj udgedduet othecr oss-appel l
ant si stheconcer nof
thecr oss-appel lantsandt heyshoul dknowhowbestt ogoabouti t.Fur ther, thecr oss-
appel lantsshoul dnotexpectany t
hingmor east herewasnot hi ngt oshowt hatt her ewere
furt
herr ecov eriesf rom t hatbankandi ftherewer e,samewer enotbr oughtt ot henot iceoft he
tri
al cour tbywayofev i
dence.Oneoft hecar dinal principlesofadj udicat ioni st hataJudge
shoul dnotspecul at e.See: Ibr ahimv .Dangwar am ( 1997)1NWLR( Pt.479)87; P.A.N.Ltd.v .Oje
(1997)11NWLR( Pt.530)625.I ti
scl earthatt herewasnor ecov eryfr om t hedi scov erymadeat
theChar t
eredBank.Hav ingt hetermsoft hecont r
acti nmi nd, thel ear nedt rialJudgeadj udged
thatt hecr oss- appel lant swer eent i
tl
edt onot hingast herewasno

[
2002]17NWLR

B.
C.C.Pl
c.v
.SkyI
nsp.(
Nig.
)Lt
d. (
I.T.Muhammad,
J.C.
A.)

117
A

C
D

F
G

evi
denceinsupportofanyrecover
yont heamountdi scovered.Iagreewit
ht hel earnedtr
ial
Judge.Onecanunder st
andthewor r
yoft hecr
oss-
appel l
antthattheyexert
edef fort
sinthe
di
scoveryofoverN2mi ll
i
onexcesschar geonthecross-respondentsaccountwi ththe
Chart
eredBank.Butitisapit
ythatthetermsofcontract(Exhibit'
B'
)whichbi ndt heparti
es
madenopr ovi
sionsondiscover
y.Itwouldamounttoj udi
cialreckl
essnessift helearnedtri
al
Judgewoul dextendt hetermsofcontractcontainedi
nexhibit'
B'tocoverdi scovery.Iti
sa
set
tledpri
ncipl
eofl awt hatacourtdoesnotmakecont r
actsfortheparti
es.I tisonlywhatt he
part
iesagreedtoint hetermsenteredbyt hem thatbi
ndsthem.See: Atoyebi v.Bel
lo( 1997)11
NWLR( Pt.528)268; Olatundev.O.A.U&Anor .(1998)4SCNJ59( 1998)5NWLR( Pt.549)178.
Accordi
nglyIresolv
ei ssueNo.1oft hecross-
appeal i
nfavourofthecross-respondent .

Thecont enti
onoft hecross-appell
antinissueNo.( ii
)i sthatt heappel l
antnev ergav eevidence
i
nr espectofthefactspl eadedintheirst
atementofdef ence, yetthetri
al Judgeaccept edt he
evidenceofthesol ewitnessfortheappel l
anttodenysomeoft herespondent 'sclaims.Learned
counsel f
orthecross- r
espondentarguedt hatDWI '
sev i
dencewasi nrespectofmat terspleaded
byt heappell
antinthet ri
alcourt
.Thecaseoft heappel lantwaspr edicatedont hedeni alof
existenceofanylawf ulagreementbet weenthepar ties.Furthert heev i
denceofDW1showed
thedi f
fer
enceinfundament alt
ermsi nexhibi
t'B'andt hepur portedaccept anceoft he
respondentsandt heirclai
m whichwer efoundondi scov ery.Ithinktherei snodi sputethat
i
ssueswer ej
oinedbyt hepar t
iesinrespectoft hefactswhi chDW1cl ari
fiedbyev i
dence.For
i
nst ance,par
agraph6oft hecrossappellant'
samendedst atementofcl aim states:-

"6. Thedefendantinalett
erdated29thNovember,1991addr essedtothef
irstplai
nti
ff
,
accept
edt
hepr oposalofthefi
rstpl
aint
if
fast
heirfi
nancialconsult
ants.Thel
etterof29th
November
,1991i sherebypl
eadedandsameshal l
ber el
ieduponatt ri
al.
"

Thecr
oss-
respondent
,ini
tsst
atementofdef
encest
ated:
-

"
1.

Par
agr
aphs1,
2,
3,
6and7oft
hest
atementofcl
aim ar
eadmi
tt
ed(
it
ali
cssuppl
i
ed)

3.

Thedefendantadmitsparagr
aphs9and11oft hecl
aim subj
ecttot
hecondi
ti
onthat50%
commissionpaidtheplai
nti
ffasprof
essi
onal
servi
ceswasf orther
ecov
eryorref
undof
unconv
entionalbankchar
gesont he

118
Ni
ger
ianWeekl
yLawRepor
ts 9December2002 (
Muhammad,
J.C.
A.)

C
D

F
G

account
soft
hedef
endantbutnotot
her
wise.
"
DW1gav eev idencei nr espectoft heabov epleadedf acts,(seep. 126oft her ecor d).Thel earned
tri
al Judgef oundont heev idenceespeci allyexhibit'B'whi chlai dthebasi sf ort hecont ract .He
furtheranal y sedt her easonswhysomepay ment scoul dnotbeor deredinf av ouroft hecr oss-
appel lantsast heydi dnotwor kinconf ormi tywitht het ermsoft hecont ract.Iti smyv iewt hat
thel earnedt r i
al Judger eli
edont hefactspl eadedandest ablishedbyt hecr oss- appel lant .
What everwassai dbyt hel earnedt r
ialJudgei nrespectoft hedef enceputbyt hecr oss-
respondentcoul di nmyv i
ew, onlyamountt oamer eobi t
erdi ctum whi chcanhav enoadv erse
effectonhi sj udgment .Thi si sbecauset hel earnedt rialJudgehadal readyr eliedandputi nuse
thedef enceasl edbef orehi m.Idonott hinki tistheki ndofer ror,ifatall
, i
nt heci rcumst ance
thatcanl eadt ot her ev ersal ofhi sdecision.I nSpascoVehi cleandPl antHi reCo.Lt d.v .Al r
aine
(Nig.)Lt d.(1995)8NWLR( Pt.416)655, (1995)9SCNJ288, theSupr emeCour tlaidi tdownt hat
i
tisnotev eryer rorormi stakei naj udgmentt hatwi llresultint heappeal bei ngal lowed.The
errorormi stakemusthav eoccasi onedami scarriageofj usticef ortheappel l
at ecour tt o
i
nter fere.Icannotsayt hatbyaski ngcross- appellantst ost i
ckt ot hetermsofcont ractt heyhav e
byconductagr eedt o, thatami scarri
agewasoccasi onedont hem.Thepr i
ncipl eoft hel awi s
thatonecannotappr obat eandr eprobate.Ogual ajiv.A.-G.,RiverSt ate&Or s.(1997)6NWLR( Pt
.
508)209, (
1997)5SCNJ240.I nt hecircumst ance, Iresolveissue( ii
)ofthecr oss- appeal i
n
favouroft hecr oss- r
espondent .

Inconclusi
onandf rom whatIhav esof arsai
d,itismyj udgmentt hattheappeal succeedsonl y
i
nt ermsofissueNo.2; i.
e.on10%i nterestawardedbyt hetrialcourt
.Sinceiti
smyf indingthat
i
twaswr ongl
yawar ded,partofthelearnedtr
ialJudge'sdecisiondealingwiththatinteresti
s
herebysetaside.Otheraspectsofthel ear
nedt r
ialJudge'sdecisi
onar eherebyaf f
ir
med.The
resul
tisthatthemai nappealisall
owedi npart.Ont hecross-appeal,
If i
ndnomer i
thereinand
samei sherebydismissedbyme.Ior derpart
iestobearowncost sinbot hthemai nandcr oss-
appeals.

MUKHTAR,J.
C.A.
:Ihaver
eadinadv
ancethel
eadjudgmentj
ustdeli
ver
edbymylear
nedbr
other
,
Muhammad,JCA.Iagr
eethatt
hegr
oundsofappeal
,wit
htheexcept
ionoft
heoneonther
ate
ofi
nter
est
[
2002]17NWLR

B.
C.C.Pl
c.v
.SkyI
nsp.(
Nig.
)Lt
d.

(
Mukht
ar,
J.C.
A.)

119

B
C

E
F

G
H

awar
dedar
eboundt
ofai
l
.Thecr
oss-
appeal
isal
sodev
oidofmer
itandmustbedi
smi
ssed.

OBADI
NA,
J.C.
A.:
Iagr
ee.

Appeal
all
owedi
npar
t

Cr
oss-
appeal
dismi
ssed.