BINEY vs. BINEY AND OTHERS [1965]DLHC1786

Date	1965-10-28
Suit No.
Citation No.	[1965]DLHC1786

ARCHER J.

DR. DE GRAFT-JOHNSON FOR THE PLAINTIFF.

P. A. ADJETEY FOR THE DEFENDANTS.

[1965]DLHC1786
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													<main id="main" class="content" style="min-height: 60rem" >BINEY<o:p></o:p>&nbsp;vs. <o:p></o:p>BINEY AND OTHERS <o:p></o:p>[HIGH COURT, ACCRA]<o:p></o:p>[1965] GLR 619<o:p></o:p><div style="mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
padding:0in 0in 1.0pt 0in">

DATE:
28 OCTOBER 1965.<o:p></o:p>

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

DR. DE GRAFT-JOHNSON FOR THE PLAINTIFF.<o:p></o:p>

P. A. ADJETEY 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 windowtext 1.5pt;
padding:0in 0in 0in 0in">

ARCHER J.<o:p></o:p>

</div><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>JUDGMENT OF ARCHER J.<o:p></o:p>The
plaintiff by originating summons seeks a declaration 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
plaintiff and the children of his late younger brother, Hendrick Frederick
Biney, are the only persons entitled to the properties stated in a schedule
attached to the affidavit in support of the summons, being properties of —<o:p></o:p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:5.0pt;
margin-left:1.0in;text-align:justify;mso-pagination:none;border:none;
mso-padding-alt:31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt;mso-border-shadow:yes">(a) Joseph Peter Oconor Biney<o:p></o:p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:5.0pt;
margin-left:1.0in;text-align:justify;mso-pagination:none;border:none;
mso-padding-alt:31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt;mso-border-shadow:yes">(b) Lily Mensimah Biney.<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) That
the interest of the parties herein are as to one-half share for plaintiff and
one-half share for the children of his late brother, Hendrick Frederick Biney.<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) That
the properties of the late Joseph Oconor Biney mentioned among others in the
schedule should be partitioned as shown on the plan prepared by the plaintiff
or as the court may direct.<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>The
plaintiff took out the summons against the two executors of the late Hendrick
Frederick Biney and also against all the children of the said Hendrick. By an
order of this court, the names of the executors were struck out from the action
and Joseph Peter Abaka Biney was ordered to stand as defendant on behalf of
himself and all his other brothers and sisters.<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>The facts
of the case briefly are as follows: The late Joseph Peter Oconor Biney, the
father of the plaintiff and grandfather of the defendant, by a document dated
12 March 1901 exhibit A, conveyed his freehold dwelling-house No. D.540/1,
Bruce Road, Accra, popularly known in the area as “Bineyville” to Joseph
Cobblah Biney, Charles Biney, Adolphus Joseph Eshun, Lily Mensimah Biney and
Hendrick Frederick Biney. Exhibit A gave the first three persons life interests
only in the said freehold and declared further that after their deaths, the
property should devolve on Thomas David Aubyn Biney, Claudius Biney, Lily
Mensimah Biney and Hendrick Frederick Bart Biney, their heirs and assigns
absolutely. All the persons with life interests and the remaindermen have died
except the plaintiff who is now the sole survivor of all the remaindermen.<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>I must
say right now that the declaration sought depends considerably on a proper
construction of exhibit A which I shall deal with in due course. Exhibit A
conveyed land with building thereon measuring not more than 100 ft. by 100 ft.
The plaintiff has also admitted that in addition to the land conveyed by
exhibit A, the plaintiff’s father acquired adjoining land from the Sempe stool
and this land is now included in the whole area known as “Bineyville.”<o:p></o:p>The
plaintiff has testified that Joseph Cobblah Biney who was some time head of
family partitioned “Bineyville” into two parts and granted one part to the
plaintiff and the other to the plaintiff’s brother Hendrick, the father of the
defendant. Thereafter Joseph Cobblah Biney permitted the plaintiff to erect
buildings on the portion granted him and to make extensions to the original
building known as “Bineyville.” The plaintiff therefore relies on this
partition by the then head of family, Joseph Cobblah Biney, and now seeks a
declaration to that effect.<o:p></o:p>