Facts:

The 1st respondent/cross appellant is a Musician while the 2nd respondent/cross appellant is a Nigerian registered private company carrying on business as the musical band of the 1st respondent/cross appellant. The appellant is a registered public company engaged in the business of brewing of beer and malt drinks, inter alia. The parties had a contract under which the respondents/cross appellants were to perform in a Maltonic National Musical Tour of ten Northern States of Nigeria commencing on the 17th of August, 1995. The contract was based on the terms and conditions contained in the appellant’s letter of 7th July 1995 admitted in evidence as Exhibit A. A sum of N250.000.00 (Two hundred and fifty thousand naira) was paid to the respondents/cross appellants pursuant to the agreement. In addition, the respondents/cross appellants were entitled to 40% per cent of the total gate takings from the tour. However, by a letter dated 16th August 1995, the appellant informed the respondents/cross appellants that the tour had been postponed for three weeks and apologised for the inconvenience. The respondents/cross appellants expressed their dissatisfaction with the postponement vide two letters dated 24th August, 1995 and 15th November, 1995 respectively. Being aggrieved, the respondents/cross appellants, as plaintiffs, sued the appellant as defendant in the Lagos High Court, for loss of anticipated earnings, loss of reputation and goodwill and general damages thus: