TWUM AND ANOTHER vs. GYAABAH [1971]DLCA2172

Date	1971-10-25
Suit No.
Citation No.	[1971]DLCA2172

AZU CRABBE J.S.C

LASSEY JA

ARCHER J.A.

CARSON FOR THE APPLICANTS.

E. D. KOM (WITH HIM DJAMSON) FOR THE RESPONDENTS.

[1971]DLCA2172
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													<main id="main" class="content" style="min-height: 60rem" >TWUM AND ANOTHER<o:p></o:p>&nbsp;vs. <o:p></o:p>GYAABAH<o:p></o:p>&nbsp;[COURT OF APPEAL.]<o:p></o:p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;[1971] 2 GLR 493<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:
25 OCTOBER 1971.<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">

CARSON FOR THE APPLICANTS.<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">

AZU CRABBE J.S.C., LASSEY AND ARCHER
JJ.A.<o:p></o:p>

</div><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>JUDGMENT OF ARCHER J.A.<o:p></o:p>Archer
J.A. delivered the judgment of the court. The plaintiff issued a writ of
summons in the High Court at Cape Coast claiming against the defendants:<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) declaration
of title to a piece or parcel of land;<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)
perpetual injunction against the defendants, their agents and servants;<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)
N¢500.00 general damages against the defendants jointly and severally.<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>The
defendants failed to deliver their statement of defence within the time
prescribed by rules of court, and the plaintiff moved the court for entry of
judgment in default. Accordingly, judgment was entered against the defendants
on 15 December 1969. Thereafter, the defendants applied to the court below to set
aside the judgment and awarded N¢200. 00 costs against the defendants.<o:p></o:p>Being
aggrieved by the order of the court below (setting aside the judgment in his
favour) the plaintiff appealed to this court and on 23 March this court made
the following order:<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">“We think
that the judge gave a wrong reason for setting aside the judgment in default.
But there can be no doubt that the statement of defence and counterclaim
disclose sufficient grounds upon which the defendants should be let in to
defend the action. In the circumstances we dismiss the appeal but we order that
as a condition for setting aside the default judgment the defendants should
within one month from the date hereof pay to the appellant the costs of N¢200.
00 awarded by the trial judge. No order as to costs in this court. Court below
to carry out.”<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>The
defendants were not present and they were not represented by counsel when this
court heard the plaintiff’s appeal. Although they admit in their affidavit that
they were informed by their counsel that the plaintiff had filed an appeal, yet
they deny that they knew of the hearing date of the appeal. However, on 28
April 1971 the defendants were served with copy of a decree demanding the sum
of N¢200.00 costs awarded by this court and for the first time, according to
the affidavit, the defendants got to know that they were liable to pay N¢200.00
costs within one month as a condition for setting aside the judgment against
them. Three days later, that is, 1 May 1971, the defendants paid the sum of
N¢200. 00 into court at Cape Coast and then applied to this court for an
extension of time within which to pay the said sum.<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>As the
defendants were not present in court when the court’s order of 23 March 1971
was made, it was necessary to serve </main>