JOHN OSEI vs. NANA AKWASI ADDAE AND TWO OTHERS [2012]DLHC8506

Date	2012-03-19
Suit No.	SUIT NO. 374/96
Citation No.	[2012]DLHC8506

HIS LORDSHIP JUSTICE JACOB B. BOON

FRANCIS KOFFIE FOR PLAINTIFF

J. K. KODUAH FOR 2ND & 3RD DEFENDANTS

[2012]DLHC8506
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													<main id="main" class="content" style="min-height: 60rem" >JOHN OSEI<o:p></o:p>vs.<o:p></o:p>NANA AKWASI
ADDAE AND TWO OTHERS<o:p></o:p>[HIGH COURT,
KUMASI]<o:p></o:p><div style="mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm">

SUIT
NO. 374/96&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; DATE: 19TH
MARCH, 2012<o:p></o:p>

</div>COUNSEL:<o:p></o:p>FRANCIS
KOFFIE FOR PLAINTIFF<o:p></o:p><div style="mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
padding:0cm 0cm 1.0pt 0cm">

J.
K. KODUAH FOR 2ND &amp; 3RD DEFENDANTS&nbsp;&nbsp; <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;
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HIS LORDSHIP JUSTICE JACOB B. BOON<o:p></o:p>

</div><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p><div style="mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
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<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;
text-align:center;border:none;mso-border-bottom-alt:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
padding:0cm;mso-padding-alt:0cm 0cm 1.0pt 0cm">JUDGMENT<o:p></o:p>

</div>In this suit a primary issue for determination is the
locus standi of the plaintiff to mount this action. The writ was originally
instituted by two plaintiffs. However, the first plaintiff passed away before
the case was heard on its merits. There is no indication he was substituted. By
their writ of summons issued from the Registry of this court on 13th
December, 1996, a little over fifteen years ago, the plaintiffs claimed the
following reliefs against the defendants.<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;
margin-bottom:0cm;margin-left:1.0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;mso-add-space:auto;
text-align:justify;text-indent:0cm;mso-list:l4 level1 lfo1">(i)<span style="font-style: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-weight: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
A declaration that the
purported last will and testament of Kwame Darko otherwise known as Kwame
Kayeya of Mpasatia near Nkawie dated 7th June, 1996 is invalid null
and void in that it was not executed, made or otherwise thumbprinted by the
said Kwame Darko alias Kwame Kayeya (deceased). Accordingly the same must be
cancelled.<o:p></o:p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;
margin-bottom:0cm;margin-left:1.0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;mso-add-space:auto;
text-align:justify;text-indent:0cm;mso-list:l4 level1 lfo1">(ii)<span style="font-style: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-weight: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
A declaration that
properties named in clause 3(i)&nbsp; (ii)
(iii) (iv) 4(i) (ii) and 6(b) in the purported last will and testament are
family properties and as such the late Kwame Darko alias Kwame Kayeya had no
testamentary capacity to will same away.<o:p></o:p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;
margin-bottom:0cm;margin-left:1.0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;mso-add-space:auto;
text-align:justify;text-indent:0cm;mso-list:l4 level1 lfo1">(iii)<span style="font-style: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-weight: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
An order of the Honourable
court setting aside the purported will<o:p></o:p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;
margin-bottom:0cm;margin-left:1.0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;mso-add-space:auto;
text-align:justify;text-indent:0cm;mso-list:l4 level1 lfo1">(iv)<span style="font-style: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-weight: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
Any order or order(s) as to
this Honourable court the justice of the suit will demand.<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>During the hearing of the suit, plaintiffs abandoned
reliefs (i) and (iii). In their amended statement of claim filed on 26/3/03,
they asserted that they are the head of Ananta family of Mpasatia and customary
successor of Opanin Kwame Darko also referred to in the writ of summons as
Kwame Kayeya respectively. They also averred that Kwame Kayeya, who passed away,
testate, in or around August, 1996 was a member of the said Ananta family of
Mpasatia. It is their case that Kwame Kayeya, in his lifetime, succeeded a
deceased family member, one Opanin Kwabena Poku, and in that capacity, he took
possession of some properties on behalf of his family, and it is those
properties he dev</main>