Facts:

The appellant/applicant and respondent entered into a sublease agreement, and agreed to submit all disputes arising from it to arbitration. Subsequently, a dispute arose between them concerning the appellant’s/applicant’s performance of its obligations in the contract and the dispute was submitted to arbitration by a sole Arbitrator in accordance with the agreement.

Following the conclusion of arbitral proceedings, the sole Arbitrator made an Arbitral award titled “Final Arbitration” award, in full and final settlement of the claims, in favour of the respondent, and flowing from this, the respondent by a motion applied to the High Court of Lagos State, for a recognition and enforcement of the Arbitral award.

Upon the conclusion of the hearing of motions filed, the High Court of Lagos State rendered its ruling and held that the Arbitral award was inconclusive and therefore, unenforceable, and struck out the application for being incompetent.

Dissatisfied with the ruling of the High Court of Lagos State, the respondent filed a notice of appeal against the said ruling in the Court of Appeal sitting in Lagos. At the close of arguments put forth by the respondents and appellant/applicant, the Court of Appeal delivered its judgment on the appeal, holding inter alia that the Arbitral award is clear, unequivocal or unambiguous, and further declared that the arbitral award itself is final and conclusive.

Dissatisfied by the judgement of the Court of Appeal, the Appellant/Applicant appealed to the Supreme court.