TOTAL OIL PRODUCTS LTD. vs. OBENG AND MANU [1962]DLHC1730

Date	1962-04-05
Suit No.
Citation No.	[1962]DLHC1730

OLLENNU J.

S.M. CODJOE FOR THE PLAINTIFF-COMPANY.

BREDU-PABI FOR THE DEFENDANTS.

[1962]DLHC1730
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													<main id="main" class="content" style="min-height: 60rem" ><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;
mso-fareast-font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;;mso-bidi-font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;;
color:#548DD4">TOTAL OIL PRODUCTS LTD. <o:p></o:p><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;
mso-fareast-font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;;mso-bidi-font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;;
color:#548DD4">vs. <o:p></o:p><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;
mso-fareast-font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;;mso-bidi-font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;;
color:#548DD4">OBENG AND MANU <o:p></o:p>[HIGH COURT, ACCRA]<o:p></o:p>[1962] 1 GLR 228<o:p></o:p><div style="mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-bottom:solid black 1.5pt;
padding:31.0pt 31.0pt 1.0pt 31.0pt;mso-border-shadow:yes">

DATE:<span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;
mso-fareast-font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;;mso-bidi-font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;;
color:#00B0F0"> 5TH APRIL, 1962.<o:p></o:p>

</div>COUNSEL:&nbsp;&nbsp; <o:p></o:p><div style="mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-bottom:solid black 1.5pt;
padding:0in 0in 0in 0in">

S.M.
CODJOE FOR THE PLAINTIFF-COMPANY.<o:p></o:p>

BREDU-PABI
FOR THE DEFENDANTS.<o:p></o:p>

</div>CORAM: <o:p></o:p><div style="mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-bottom:solid black 1.5pt;
padding:0in 0in 0in 0in">

OLLENNU, J.<o:p></o:p>

</div><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>JUDGMENT OF
OLLENNU J.<o:p></o:p>His lordship narrated the facts as set out in the headnote and
continued:] The first point to be considered is the position of the second
defendant in the case. It is quite clear both on the pleadings and the evidence
that no contractual relationship exists between the plaintiffs and the second
defendant, and no tortious act has been committed by the second defendant
against the plaintiff-company. Therefore no cause of action is disclosed
against him; the suit against him is therefore frivolous.<o:p></o:p>On the suit generally it was submitted by counsel for the
plaintiffs that:<o:p></o:p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:5.0pt;
margin-left:.5in;text-align:justify;mso-pagination:none;border:none;mso-padding-alt:
31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt;mso-border-shadow:yes">(1) The conveyance by the second defendant to the first defendant
is null and void, because it was made contrary to section 75 (1) of the Local
Government Ordinance;1(1)<o:p></o:p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:5.0pt;
margin-left:.5in;text-align:justify;mso-pagination:none;border:none;mso-padding-alt:
31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt;mso-border-shadow:yes">(2) The lease by the first defendant is also null and void by
reason of the said section 75 (1) of Cap. 64; and<o:p></o:p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:5.0pt;
margin-left:.5in;text-align:justify;mso-pagination:none;border:none;mso-padding-alt:
31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt;mso-border-shadow:yes">(3) By the nature of the deeds of conveyance exhibit C and exhibit
E between the secon defendant and the first defendant, the second defendant
forfeited his usufructuary or determinable title to the land as a subject of
the stool.<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>I shall deal with each of these points in turn.<o:p></o:p>Section 75 (1) of the Local Government Ordinance relied upon to
sustain the submission that the transfer of the land by the second defendant to
the first defendant is void, reads:<o:p></o:p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:5.0pt;
margin-left:35.0pt;text-align:justify;mso-pagination:none;border:none;
mso-padding-alt:31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt;mso-border-shadow:yes">“75 (1) any disposal of any
interest or right in land which involves the payment of any valuable
consideration or which could, by reason of its being to a person not entitled
by customary law to the free use of land, involve the payment of any such
consideration, which is made:-<o:p></o:p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:5.0pt;
margin-left:35.0pt;text-align:justify;text-indent:.7pt;mso-pagination:none;
border:none;mso-padding-alt:31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt;mso-border-shadow:yes">(a) by a stool; or (b) by any
person who, by reason of his being so entitled under customary law, has
acquired possession of such land either without payment of any consideration or
in exchange for a nominal consideration; shall be subject to the concurrence of
the Urban or Local Council, as the case may be, for the area concerned, and
shall be of no effect unless and until such concurrence has been obtained and
certified in writing under the hand of the chairman or clerk of the council”.<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>Since the disposal in this case was not made by a stool, the part
of the section which is relevant to this case is subsection (1) (b). The
important words therein are:<o:p></o:p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:5.0pt;
margin-left:.5in;text-align:justify;mso-pagination:none;border:none;mso-padding-alt:
31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt;mso-border-shadow:yes">“disposal . . . made . . . by a person who, by reason of his being
so entitled under customary law, has acquired possession of such land either
without payment of any consideration or in exchange for a nominal
consideration”.<o:p></o:p>