DJORBUA vs. POKU AND ANOTHER [1971]DLHC2106

Date	1971-12-04
Suit No.
Citation No.	[1971]DLHC2106

HAYFRON-BENJAMIN J.

K. OFOSU-ASANTE FOR THE APPLICANT.

W. N. ADUMUA-BOSSMAN FOR THE RESPONDENT.

[1971]DLHC2106
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													<main id="main" class="content" style="min-height: 60rem" >DJORBUA<o:p></o:p>&nbsp;vs. <o:p></o:p>POKU AND ANOTHER <o:p></o:p>[HIGH COURT,
ACCRA]<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] 1 GLR 93<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:
4 DECEMBER 1970.<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">

K.
OFOSU-ASANTE FOR THE APPLICANT.<o:p></o:p>

W. N.
ADUMUA-BOSSMAN FOR THE RESPONDENT.<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">

HAYFRON-BENJAMIN J.<o:p></o:p>

</div><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>JUDGMENT OF HAYFRON-BENJAMIN J.<o:p></o:p>This is
an application on notice for an order setting aside a judgment entered against
the defendants by the High Court, Accra, on 27 February 1970.<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>The
plaintiff had on his writ of summons issued on 28 October 1967 claimed an order
for the specific performance of a contract with the defendants to execute a
deed by way of confirmation, further assurance and perpetuating evidence of a
customary sale of land to him, the plaintiff. He further claimed damages for
the breach of the contract. The plaintiff’s writ was accompanied by a statement
of claim setting out fully the basis of his claim.<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>The
defendants entered appearance separately; the first defendant by himself, and
the second defendant through a solicitor. On 8 March 1968, when no defence was
forthcoming from either defendant, the plaintiff filed notice of motion for
judgment in default of defence under Order 27, rr. 7 and 11 of the Supreme
[High] Court (Civil Procedure) Rules, 1954 (L.N. 140A), together with the
necessary certificate that the suit was not one to which rule 18 of Order 27
applied. On 22 March 1968, this motion came up for hearing before Charles
Crabbe J. (as he then was) where the defendants were represented by different counsel.
Judgment was entered against the first defendant in terms of the motion paper,
and the motion as far as it concerned the second defendant was adjourned for
hearing on 6 April 1968. On the adjourned date the motion against the second
defendant was withdrawn and struck out as a defence had that morning been filed
on his behalf. On 7 June 1968, the plaintiff filed a reply to the statement of
defence. A few days later, i.e. on 19 June 1968, the plaintiff filed a notice
to admit facts under Order 32, r. 4, and had this served on the second
defendant through his solicitor on 21 June 1968. The defendant did not reply to
this notice at all.<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>On 28
November 1968, that is exactly one year and one month after the commencement of
the action the plaintiff filed notice to strike out the second defendant’s
statement of defence under paragraph 85 (2) of the Courts Decree, 1966
(N.L.C.D. 84), and Order 32, r. 6 of the rules of court. The reasons for filing
this application are set out in the affidavit supporting the motion. It states
that the second defendant by not filing an answer to the notice to admit facts
“appears thereby to be determined to delay the expeditious hearing and
conclusion of this suit by evasions, to say nothing of the obvious false
denials of some matters alleged in the statement of claim.” The plaintiff went
on:<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">“I now
humbly desire to cut through the second defendant’s said evasions and
falsehoods by confronting him with relevant extracts from: <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">(a) Suit
No. 33/1926 entitled<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">Kwame
Asante, Odikro of Anyinam .. Plaintiff v. Kobina Baa, Odikro of Osienase ..
Defendant and Sintim Poku, Odikro of Adakuma .. Co-Defendant heard by Mr.
Justice Roger Evans Hall, in the Supreme Court, Cape Coast, and also from <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">