Facts:

The plaintiff purchased a damaged Land Cruiser four wheel drive vehicle from one Chief Alphonsus Igbeke for N3.5 million with a receipt dated 22/10/01 issued by Chief Igbeke who originally bought it from Skymit Motors. The plaintiff tendered some bundle of documents consisting of the invoice, receipt, delivery order and attestation dated 27/2/01and a change of ownership dated 22/10/01 which Chief Igbeke gave him. The plaintiff stated that before he paid for the vehicle, he went to Skymit Motors to ascertain the genuineness of all the documents received from Chief Igbeke and confirmed that theywere genuine. The plaintiff further stated that after paying for the vehicle, he went to Ikenga Hotel at Awka to take delivery. Before he was permitted to take delivery, the hotel demanded for N1 million owed by Chief Igbeke and he had to pay in two installments of N500,000 each. After the Jeep was released, he brought it to Lagos for repairs which cost N1.6 million and thereafter, he decided to sell it and sent it to Exotic Motors Ltd. Alaka, Lagos to be displayed. To his embarrassment, some policemen from ‘Area F’ Police Station, Ikeja came to arrest him in the presence of his clients, neighbour and employees.

He was interrogated on the allegation that he stole the Jeep but was released on bail after showing them all the documents and stamped fully paid. Under cross-examination, he stated he went to inspect the Jeep with Chief Igbeke and found that it was almost brand new