Okwejiminor v Gbakeji (2008) 5 NWLR (Pt.1079) 172 Mohammed JSC defined the concept of agency thus:- “Agency is the relationship which exists or arises where one person called the agent, has the authority or capacity to create legal relations by acting on behalf of another person called the principal, whereby the latter undertakes to be answerable for the lawful acts of the former provided it was done within the scope of the former’s authority, or ratified by the latter”.
THE IDEA BEHIND AGENCY RELATIONSHIP
The idea behind agency is that the law acknowledges that a person does not always need to act in person to change his legal relations. He may either employ the services of another to change them or do something to change them. Ordinarily, the idea is that the agent can affect the principal’s legal position by certain acts which, though performed by the agent, are to be regarded as acts of the principal. See Idowu v. Olorunfemi and Ors (2013) LPELR-20728 (CA).
— H.M. Ogunwumiju, JCA. Godwin Ukah & Ors. V. Christopher A. Onyia & Ors. (CA/E/295/2008, 21 Jan 2016)