Facts:

The appellant was the plaintiff in the suit filed at the Rivers State high court, Port-Harcourt and the respondent was the defendant. The case of the appellant was that it leased the premises situate at and known as No. 25, Aba Road, Port-Harcourt from the respondent in 1972 for a term of 30 years. It used the premises as a supermarket and warehouse.

During the subsistence of the lease in 1992, the respondent filed an action against the appellant before a rent tribunal claiming possession of the premises. The rent tribunal granted possession of the premises to the respondent on October 4, 1993. On the same date, the rent tribunal ordered the execution of its judgment against the appellant. In accordance with the order of the tribunal, its judgment was executed against the appellant on the same date judgment was delivered, resulting in the recovery of possession of the premises by the respondent, damage to the appellant’s properties and loss suffered by the appellant in relation to its business, profit and goodwill.