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CaseLaw

Ajomale V. Yaduat (No.1) (1991) CLR 5(i) (SC)

Judgement delivered on May 31st 1991

Brief

  • Jurisdiction of Court of Appeal
  • Exercise of judicial power
  • Jurisdiction
  • Original and appellate jurisdiction of court

Facts

Applicant who is also the Appellant before us, is the appellant in the appeal pending before the Court of Appeal. He was the Defendant in the High Court Respondents before us who are also Respondents in the Court of Appeal in the main appeal were the plaintiffs in the High Court. The action by the plaintiff was for-

  • 1
    A declaration of title to a statutory right of occupancy deemed to be granted by the Governor of Lagos State in respect of the plot 55 Alade Avenue in Lawani Balogun Lay Out at Wasimi Village, Ikeja Lagos State, Ikeja District, TPA 0314 of 7th March, 1964 and shown in plan AT/43/66 dated 20/4/1966 and filed herewith.
  • 2
    N20,000, special and general damages for trespass committed by the defendant, his servants etc.
  • 3
    Injunction restraining the defendant, his servants, or agents from further entering, doing or taking away anything from the said plot of land/or interfering with the plaintiffs right over the said plot of land.

After a full hearing on pleadings, the trial judge found the plaintiff and granted the relief s claimed. The learned Judge found that the Defendant was a trespasser, and awarded Nl.000.00 as damages. He also granted a perpetual injunction against the Defendant. Defendant appealed to the Court of Appeal.

On the 24th December, 1987 the Defendant filed a motion for stay of execution of the judgment of the trial judge. The motion was fixed for hearing on the 25/1/88 and was granted by the learned judge after due hearing.

Plaintiff/Respondent then appealed to the Court of Appeal against the ruling granting the stay of execution. Thus, two appeals in respect of the same case were pending in the Court of Appeal. There was the appeal by the Defendant against the judgment of the High Court, and the appeal by the Plaintiffs against the ruling of the learned judge on the application for stay of execution.

The Court of Appeal heard and allowed the appeal of the plaintiffs against the ruling for stay of execution. The Defendant, has appealed to this court against the judgment of the Court of Appeal setting aside the order for stay of execution, pending the determination of the appeal against the judgment of the learned judge in the Court of Appeal.

Issues

Whether the Supreme Court can exercise jurisdiction to stay the execution of the...

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