BONSU vs. EYIFAH AND ANOTHER [2001]DLHC1181

Date	2001-05-30
Suit No.
Citation No.	[2001]DLHC1181

APPAU J

ADDO ATUAH FOR THE PLAINTIFF.

CYRIL QUARTEY FOR THE DEFENDANTS.

<p class="mb-5" id="contentDlCitation"  hidden>[2001]DLHC1181</p>
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													<main id="main" class="content" style="min-height: 60rem" ><span style="font-size: 18px !important;"><span style="font-size: 18px !important;"><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-bottom:5.0pt;text-align:center;
mso-pagination:none;border:none;mso-padding-alt:31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt;
mso-border-shadow:yes"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;
mso-fareast-font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;;mso-bidi-font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;;
color:#00B0F0">BONSU<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-bottom:5.0pt;text-align:center;
mso-pagination:none;border:none;mso-padding-alt:31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt;
mso-border-shadow:yes"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;
mso-fareast-font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;;mso-bidi-font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;;
color:#00B0F0">vs.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-bottom:5.0pt;text-align:center;
mso-pagination:none;border:none;mso-padding-alt:31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt;
mso-border-shadow:yes"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;
mso-fareast-font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;;mso-bidi-font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;;
color:#00B0F0">EYIFAH AND ANOTHER<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-bottom:5.0pt;text-align:center;
mso-pagination:none;border:none;mso-padding-alt:31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt;
mso-border-shadow:yes"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;
mso-fareast-font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;;mso-bidi-font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;">[HIGH
COURT, ACCRA]<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-bottom:5.0pt;text-align:center;
mso-pagination:none;border:none;mso-padding-alt:31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt;
mso-border-shadow:yes"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;
mso-fareast-font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;;mso-bidi-font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;">[2001-2002]
1 GLR 9<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><div style="mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
padding:0in 0in 1.0pt 0in">

</div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:5.0pt;text-align:justify;mso-pagination:
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yes"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;
line-height:115%;font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;mso-fareast-font-family:
&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;;mso-bidi-font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;">COUNSEL:<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:5.0pt;text-align:justify;mso-pagination:
none;border:none;mso-padding-alt:31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt;mso-border-shadow:
yes"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;
mso-fareast-font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;;mso-bidi-font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;">ADDO
ATUAH FOR THE PLAINTIFF.<o:p></o:p></span></p><div style="mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
padding:0in 0in 1.0pt 0in">

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:5.0pt;mso-pagination:none;border:none;
mso-border-bottom-alt:solid windowtext 1.5pt;padding:0in;mso-padding-alt:0in 0in 1.0pt 0in"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;
mso-fareast-font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;;mso-bidi-font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;">CYRIL
QUARTEY FOR THE DEFENDANTS.<b><u> <o:p></o:p></u></b></span></p>

</div><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-bottom:5.0pt;text-align:center;
mso-pagination:none;border:none;mso-padding-alt:31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt;
mso-border-shadow:yes"><b><u><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;
mso-fareast-font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;;mso-bidi-font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;">JUDGEMENT<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:5.0pt;text-align:justify;mso-pagination:
none;border:none;mso-padding-alt:31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt;mso-border-shadow:
yes"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;
line-height:115%;font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;mso-fareast-font-family:
&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;;mso-bidi-font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;">Appau J. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:5.0pt;text-align:justify;mso-pagination:
none;border:none;mso-padding-alt:31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt;mso-border-shadow:
yes"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;
mso-fareast-font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;;mso-bidi-font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;">This
is an application by the defendants calling on the court to strike out or set
aside the plaintiff’s writ of summons for non-compliance with a fundamental
legal requirement. The six-paragraphed affidavit accompanying the application
which was sworn to by counsel for the defendants did not specify the said
requirement which the defendants said the plaintiff did not comply with.
However, according to the defendants, they had filed the application consequent
upon a conditional appearance entered on their behalf by their counsel on 15
March 2001. The application itself was filed on 29 March 2001, that is ten days
after the entry of appearance. The plaintiff did not file any affidavit in
opposition because, according to her counsel, there was nothing in the affidavit
in support of the application which they had to respond to. Counsel for the
plaintiff therefore opposed the application on legal grounds.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:5.0pt;text-align:justify;mso-pagination:
none;border:none;mso-padding-alt:31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt;mso-border-shadow:
yes"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;
mso-fareast-font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;;mso-bidi-font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;">In
his arguments in support of the application, counsel for the defendants pointed
out that the plaintiff’s claim was for the recall and revocation of letters of
administration granted to the defendants. However, the plaintiff did not comply
with section 67 of the Administration of Estates Act, 1961 (Act 63) thus
rendering the action void ab initio. According to counsel, section 67 of Act 63
requires that before a plaintiff brings an action in respect of an estate over
which letters of administration has been granted, the plaintiff must first of
all file a citation calling upon the citee to produce the letters of administration
at the registry of the court. Counsel submitted that since the plaintiff did
not serve any notice on the defendants to lodge the letters of administration
granted them at the registry of the court before filing and serving the writ on
them, the writ becomes void and same should be set aside. Counsel referred to
the case of Anyinam v Mensah [1989-90] 2 GLR 96 in support of his contention
and submitted that being a fundamental irregularity, the plaintiff cannot find
solace under Order 70 of the High Court (Civil Procedure) Rules, 1954 (LN 140A)
for a cure. Counsel also said the failure to depose to an affidavit in
opposition meant the plaintiff was not opposed to the application.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:5.0pt;text-align:justify;mso-pagination:
none;border:none;mso-padding-alt:31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt;mso-border-shadow:
yes"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;
mso-fareast-font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;;mso-bidi-font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;">In
reply to the submissions by counsel for the defendants, the plaintiff’s counsel
indicated that whilst the writ of summons was filed on 7 February 2001,
appearance was filed on 14 March 2001. This being the case, according to
counsel for the plaintiff, the defendants should have sought leave of the court
first before proceeding further which they did not do. Counsel referred to
Order 12, r 16 of LN 140A and then the case of Republic v High Court, Kumasi;
Ex parte Fosuhene [1989-90] 2 GLR 315, SC (holding 2) in support of his
contention. Counsel went on further to refer to Orders 4, r 5(1) and 6, r 6(1)
of the Probate and Administration Rules, 1991 (LI 1515) and then Order 2, r 1
of LN 140A and submitted that the citation which counsel for the defendants was
referring to follows the issuance of the writ of summons but, not before.
Counsel contented that the only way the plaintiff could have commenced the
action was by writ and that the citation was to follow latter. Counsel said the
case of Anyinam v Mensah (supra) cited by the defence counsel had no bearing
whatsoever on the issue at stake. The plaintiff’s counsel therefore prayed for
the dismissal of the application which he said was premature.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:5.0pt;text-align:justify;mso-pagination:
none;border:none;mso-padding-alt:31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt;mso-border-shadow:
yes"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;
mso-fareast-font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;;mso-bidi-font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;">In
reply to plaintiff counsel’s reference to Order 12, r 16 of LN 140A, upon leave
granted by this court, counsel for the defendants contented that granted that
the defendants filed their conditional appearance out of time, that alone did
not vitiate the proceedings but only converts the conditional appearance to an
unconditional one. However, since the irregularity being complained of was
incurable under Order 70 of LN 140A, it could be raised at any time whether the
appearance was conditional or not.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:5.0pt;text-align:justify;mso-pagination:
none;border:none;mso-padding-alt:31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31</main>