IN RE ARTHUR (DECEASED) ABAKAH AND ANOR. vs. ATTAH HAGAN AND ANOTHER [1972]DLCA2225

Date	1972-02-16
Suit No.
Citation No.	[1972]DLCA2225

AZU CRABBE J.S.C

LASSEY JA

ARCHER J.A.

SARPONG (WITH HIM QUANSAH) FOR THE APPELLANTS.

DR. DE GRAFT-JOHNSON FOR THE RESPONDENTS.

[1972]DLCA2225
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													<main id="main" class="content" style="min-height: 60rem" >IN RE ARTHUR (DECEASED) ABAKAH AND ANOR.<o:p></o:p>&nbsp;vs. <o:p></o:p>ATTAH HAGAN AND ANOTHER <o:p></o:p>[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;[1972] 2 GLR 435<o:p></o:p><div style="mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
padding:0in 0in 0in 0in">

DATE:
16 FEBRUARY 1972.<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">

SARPONG (WITH HIM QUANSAH) FOR THE APPELLANTS.<o:p></o:p>

DR. DE GRAFT-JOHNSON FOR THE RESPONDENTS.<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 AZU CRABBE J. S.C.<o:p></o:p>Azu
Crabbe J.S.C. delivered the judgment of himself and Lassey J.A. This is an
appeal from a decision of Griffiths-Randolph J. setting aside a consent order
made by the late Owusu J. in an application for a grant of probate of the will
of Robert Benjamin Arthur (deceased) of Cape Coast.<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>The
material facts may be shortly stated. By his will dated 6 January 1967, Robert
Benjamin Arthur appointed his son Robert Samuel Arthur and his brother Ekow
Abakah, executors (hereinafter called the appellants) and made various
bequests. He bequeathed to each appellant and to the wife of the first
appellant the sum of ¢30.00. The first appellant was also to share in other
personal estate including furniture and personal effects of the deceased. The
appellants were also the attesting witnesses.<o:p></o:p>The
proceedings in this case commenced with an application by the appellants in the
High Court, Cape Coast, for an order granting probate of the will of Robert
Benjamin Arthur who died testate on 15 December 1969 at Cape Coast. Against
this application, three persons, namely, John Kwame Attah-Hagan, Efua Akon and
Efua Attah, maternal brother and sisters respectively of the deceased
(hereinafter called the respondents), filed a joint caveat. Consequently, the
appellants caused warning to issue calling upon the respondents to file their
affidavit of interest. They duly obeyed the warning and in a joint affidavit of
interest sworn to by John Kwame Attah-Hagan on behalf of himself and his
sisters it was alleged as follows:<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</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) That
I and my sisters Efua Akon and Efua Attah all of Cape Coast have filed caveat
in respect of the above-mentioned estate. <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
we are the maternal brother and sisters of the deceased. <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
I have been authorised by the other caveatrices to swear to this affidavit for
myself and on their behalf.<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">That we
are informed and verily believe same that the will does not bear the true
signature of the testator. That again all the two attesting witnesses to the
will are beneficiaries in respect of certain properties in the will; and
incidentally one of the said witnesses is also one of the executors. That I am
advised and verily believe same that the alleged execution of the said will by
the testator is fraught with doubts. That in the circumstances, we challenge
the validity of the said will and do hereby subject the executors to prove the
will in solemn form.”<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>On 25
March 1970, the appellants filed a notice of motion pursuant to Order 60, r. 20
(2) of the Supreme [High] Court (Civil Procedure) Rules, 1954 (L.N. 140A),
accompanied by an affidavit sworn to by one of the appellants, Ekow Abakah. The
material paragraphs of this affidavit are as follows:<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">