IN RE AGYEPONG (DECD.); ABOSI vs. POKU [1973]DLHC2385

Date	1973-06-01
Suit No.
Citation No.	[1973]DLHC2385

CHARLES CRABBE J.

AKAINYAH FOR THE PLAINTIFF-RESPONDENT.

DR. E. V. C. DE GRAFT-JOHNSON (KONDUAH WITH HIM) FOR THE DEFENDANT-APPLICANT.

[1973]DLHC2385
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													<main id="main" class="content" style="min-height: 60rem" >IN RE AGYEPONG (DECD.); ABOSI <o:p></o:p>vs. <o:p></o:p>POKU <o:p></o:p>[HIGH COURT,
SEKONDI]<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; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; [1973]
2 GLR 456<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:
1 JUNE 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">

AKAINYAH FOR THE PLAINTIFF-RESPONDENT.<o:p></o:p>

DR. E. V. C. DE GRAFT-JOHNSON (KONDUAH WITH HIM)
FOR THE DEFENDANT-APPLICANT.<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">

CHARLES CRABBE J.<o:p></o:p>

</div><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>JUDGMENT OF CHARLES CRABBE J.<o:p></o:p>The
plaintiff issued a writ, filed on 24 January 1973, claiming as head of family
and customary successor of the late J. K. Agyepong,<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) A
declaration that the self-acquired and family properties of which the late J.
K. Agyepong died possessed of are now vested in the plaintiff by virtue of his
appointment as successor and head of 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">(b) A
declaration that the marriage of the late J. K. Agyepong with the defendant was
not in accordance with the Marriage Ordinance, Cap. 127 (1951 Rev.). <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">(c)
Perpetual injunction restraining the defendant, her servants and/or agents from
interfering with the properties of which the late J. K. Agyepong died
possessed. <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">(d) An
order of the court that the defendant surrender all the properties taken from
the deceased’s premises and/or for an account.”<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>In an
affidavit in verification of the endorsement on the writ, the plaintiff stated
that he is the lawfully appointed successor and head of family of the late J.
K. Agyepong “having been so appointed in
succession to the late J. K. Agyepong; that the defendant was the second or
otherwise the junior wife of the late J. K. Agyepong but they divorced and/or
ceased to cohabit with each other more than seven years before the death of J.
K. Agyepong.”<o:p></o:p>As a result of the divorce or
cessation of cohabitation “the defendant re-married during the lifetime of the
late J. K. Agyepong; and that the defendant had obtained letters of
administration claiming to be a wife married in accordance with the Marriage
Ordinance, Cap. 127 (1951 Rev.), to the late J. K. Agyepong at the time of his
death, failing to disclose these facts.”<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>The
plaintiff claims to be a uterine brother of the late J. K. Agyepong. He says
that some time in the late 1920’s, the late Agyepong, an Ashanti by birth,
married one Madam Afua Num in accordance with Ashanti customary law. There were
eleven issues of this marriage, eight of whom survived the late Agyepong. That
marriage under Ashanti customary law subsisted until the death of the late
Agyepong at Takoradi on or about October 1971.<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>In 1956
the late Agyepong married the defendant, she being aware of the existing
customary law marriage between the late Agyepong and Madam Afua Num. There were
two living issues of the marriage with the defendant. In or about the year 1957
the late Agyepong married again one Madam Awushe Esi with whom he had five
issues. The marriage between the late Agyepong and Madam Esi also subsisted
until the death of the l</main>