KUMAH vs. ANKOMA [1972]DLHC2229

Date	1972-03-24
Suit No.
Citation No.	[1972]DLHC2229

BAIDOO J.

A. H. SACKEYFIO FOR THE PLAINTIFF.

E. M. AMPONSAH DADZIE FOR THE DEFENDANT.

[1972]DLHC2229
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													<main id="main" class="content" style="min-height: 60rem" >KUMAH <o:p></o:p>vs. <o:p></o:p>ANKOMA <o:p></o:p>[HIGH COURT, CAPE
COAST]<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 134<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:
24 MARCH 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">

A. H. SACKEYFIO FOR THE PLAINTIFF.<o:p></o:p>

E. M. AMPONSAH DADZIE FOR THE DEFENDANT.<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">

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

</div><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>JUDGMENT OF BAIDOO J.<o:p></o:p>The
plaintiff applied to this court for letters of administration to administer the
estate of her deceased brother, Opanyin Yaw Koramoah, who died intestate at
Amanfupong on 18 August 1969. The defendant, a nephew of the deceased, filed a
caveat and as the parties could not agree on who should administer the estate
the court, acting under Order 60, r. 21 (b) of the Supreme [High] Court (Civil
Procedure) Rules, 1954 (L.N. 140A), ordered the applicant to issue the summons
herein against the caveator. The plaintiff is therefore claiming in this action
“a declaration that she is the proper person entitled to succeed to Opanyin Yaw
Koramoah (deceased) and to take out letters of administration for the
administration of the estate of the said deceased.”<o:p></o:p>The
plaintiff’s case as pleaded in the statement of claim was 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">“(1) The
plaintiff is a farmer of Amanfupong as well as the defendant. <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)
Parties belong to the same family. <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) The
deceased had two sisters: a deceased one, whose son is the defendant and the
plaintiff; and therefore the defendant is a nephew to the deceased and the
plaintiff. <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">(4) The
deceased took ill on 8 August and died on 18 August 1969. <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">(5) After
the funeral rites, the head of family Opanyin Anifori Bosompen Ntow with the
knowledge, consent and approval of the entire family appointed the plaintiff a
customary successor to 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">&nbsp;(6) Accordingly the plaintiff applied to the
court for letters of administration. The formal application was granted on 13
October 1969. <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">(7) While
these proceedings were pending before the High Court, the defendant sued the
plaintiff in the Grade II District Court of Akim Ofoase, claiming that he is
the proper person to succeed and to administer the estate 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">(8) The
fact that proceedings relating to the estate of the deceased were pending
before the High Court was brought to the notice of the Ofoase court,
nevertheless an ex parte judgment was entered against the plaintiff on 22
November 1969. <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">(9) The
plaintiff then moved the Ofoase court to set aside the ex parte judgment which
was entered without jurisdiction. The application was dismissed. A judgment
entered without jurisdiction is of no effect. <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">(10) At the
time of his death the deceased had his fixed place of abode at Amanfupong. He
had his house there, and there he lived, died and he was buried. The Ofoase
court therefore had no jurisdiction to determine any suit relating to his
estate (Courts Decree, 1966 (N.L.C</main>