MBRAH vs. JOHNSON [1973]DLHC2325

Date	1973-05-28
Suit No.
Citation No.	[1973]DLHC2325

EDWARD WIREDU J.

OSEI FOR THE APPLICANT-COMPLAINANT.

G. K. ACQUAH FOR THE ACCUSED-RESPONDENT.

AGUDETSE ASSISTANT STATE ATTORNEY FOR THE REPUBLIC

[1973]DLHC2325
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													<main id="main" class="content" style="min-height: 60rem" >MBRAH <o:p></o:p>vs. <o:p></o:p>JOHNSON <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;[1973]
1 GLR 213<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:
28 MAY 1973.<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">

OSEI FOR THE APPLICANT-COMPLAINANT.<o:p></o:p>

G. K. ACQUAH FOR THE ACCUSED-RESPONDENT.<o:p></o:p>

AGUDETSE, ASSISTANT STATE ATTORNEY, FOR THE
REPUBLIC<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">

EDWARD WIREDU J.<o:p></o:p>

</div><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>JUDGMENT OF EDWARD WIREDU J.<o:p></o:p>This
application is brought by a complainant in a criminal case pending before the
Fosu District Court II praying for transfer of the said case to either the
circuit or the district court grade I for trial and determination. The
application according to learned counsel for the applicant is brought under
sections 20, 100 and 101 of the Courts Act, 1971 (Act 372). The grounds for the
application are set out in a six paragraph affidavit sworn to by the applicant
which reads 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">“I, Madam
Effua Mbrah of Ateiku in the Central Region of Ghana make oath and say as
follows: (1) That I am truly the deponent herein. <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
I reported a case of abduction of my daughter against the accused, Kwame
Johnson of railway station, Assin Fosu about three months ago and the accused
has been charged for abduction before the District Court Grade II Assin Fosu. <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
about a month ago my daughter Margaret Anima saw the accused enter the trial
magistrate’s house at about 8 o’clock in the evening and stayed in there for
over 30 minutes.<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) That
when the accused came out of the trial magistrate’s house my daughter Margaret
Anima confronted the accused and demanded to know what the accused went to do
at the trial magistrate’s house but the accused could not give any reason.<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;(5) That subsequent to this incident the
accused has openly said to the hearing of one Theresa Nyarkoa and one Mohamed
that he knew and was very certain that the trial magistrate would acquit him
(the accused). <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">(6) That
in view of the foregoing facts I am afraid that the magistrate is really
interested in the case and as a matter of precaution and in the interest of
justice I pray this honourable court not to allow the trial magistrate Mr. S.
T. Dabra to continue trying the case but rather transfer it to either the
circuit court or the Magistrate Court Grade I, Cape Coast.”<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>Copies of
the application, were directed for service on the district magistrate before
whom the case is pending, the accused and the state attorney in Cape Coast. I
do not know the reason why a copy of the application was directed for service
on the district magistrate personally, but I think it is a practice which
should be avoided in future.<o:p></o:p>The
application is being resisted by the accused whose counsel in an affidavit in
opposition deposed 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">“ I
George Kingsley Acquah of Messrs. Forson, Sarpong &amp; Company a firm of
solicitors at Cape Coast make oath and say as follows: <o:p></o:p>