STEPHEN ARHIN vs. MALLAM ABU [2013]DLCA3637

Date	2013-03-21
Suit No.	SUIT NO. H1/223/2008
Citation No.	[2013]DLCA3637

ADJEI J.A. (PRESIDING)

ACKAH-YENSU J.A

BENSON J.

MR. MICHAEL ARTHUR DADZIE FOR THE PLAINTIFF/APPELLANT

[2013]DLCA3637
																																						<div class="restriction-wrapper">
														<div class="container-lg">
															<div class="row">
																<div class="col-md-12 restricted-content">
																	<div class="restricted-content-img-wrapper">
																		<div class="lock-icon bounce-7">
																			<img class=""
																				src="https://www.dennislawgh.com/dl-assets/dl-images/lock-content.png"
																				alt="Subscription based content">
																		</div>
																	</div>
																	 
																		<a href="https://www.dennislawgh.com/login"
																		class="btn btn-primary btn-lg"
																		style="font-family: 'open sans'; text-transform: capitalize; border-radius: 8px"> 
																		Login to Read Full Case </a>
																	 
																	
																</div>
															</div>
														</div>
													</div>
													<main id="main" class="content" style="min-height: 60rem" >STEPHEN ARHIN<o:p></o:p>vs.<o:p></o:p>MALLAM ABU<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"><o:p></o:p>[COURT OF APPEAL, CAPE COAST]<o:p></o:p><div style="mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
padding:0in 0in 1.0pt 0in">

SUIT
NO. H1/223/2008&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: 21TH
MARCH, 2013<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 1.0pt 0in">

MR.
MICHAEL ARTHUR DADZIE FOR THE PLAINTIFF/APPELLANT <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 1.0pt 0in">

ADJEI,
J.A. J.A. (PRESIDING), ACKAH-YENSU, J.A. AND BENSON, J. <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;
padding:0in 0in 1.0pt 0in">

JUDGMENT<o:p></o:p>

</div>DENNIS ADJEI, J.A.:<o:p></o:p>This
appeal emanates from the judgment of the High Court, Cape Coast which dismissed
the plaintiff’s claim as unproved on 16th June, 2008. The plaintiff sued
the defendant for:<o:p></o:p>“a.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; A
declaration of title to all that piece or parcel of land at
Kasoa-Odupong-Pkehe, sector 8 Block B and described as Plot No. 182, covering
an approximate area of 0.30 acres and bounded by plot Nos. 180,181,184 and
proposed road.<o:p></o:p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; b.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Recovery
of possession of the said plot of land<o:p></o:p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; c.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Damages
for trespass<o:p></o:p>d.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Perpetual
Injunction restraining the defendant, his agents, servants, workmen, assigns
etc from interfering with the plaintiff’s title to the land and more
particularly from continuing his trespassory etc”.<o:p></o:p>The
defendant entered appearance and filed his statement of defence. Even though he
denied being a trespasser he did not assert ownership to the disputed property.
He pleaded further that the land is neither for him nor the plaintiff. The
defendant did not take part in the hearing. The plaintiff gave evidence and tendered
Exhibits but the trial High Court judge however held that he had failed to prove
his title on the preponderance of probabilities. The plaintiff in his appeal
raised seven (7) grounds of appeal. The grounds of appeal are as follows:<o:p></o:p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; “a.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The judgment
is against the weight of evidence<o:p></o:p>b.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The
Judge with the greatest respect misdirected himself on the onus of proof
required of the plaintiff and this occasioned a substantial miscarriage of
justice<o:p></o:p>c.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; the
learned trial Judge misunderstood the legal&nbsp;
import of the deed of&nbsp; conveyance
tendered with attachments which deed was registered&nbsp; and marked Exhibit ‘A”.<o:p></o:p>d.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; the
learned Judge holding that Exhibit ‘A’ was forged, was unfounded&nbsp; as there&nbsp;
was no evidence &nbsp;before him to
that effect.<o:p></o:p>e.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; the
Judge erred when he&nbsp; held that because
reserved rent &nbsp;has not&nbsp; been paid, plaintiff could not&nbsp; assert&nbsp;
title&nbsp; to the disputed land.<o:p></o:p>f.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; the
Judge misdirected&nbsp; himself&nbsp; on the&nbsp;
law of Declaration of Title when he held that the Declaration of the
Title to the land is discretionary.<o:p></o:p>g.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The
Judge did not exercise his discretion fairly when he awarded cost against the
plaintiff for the defendant”.<o:p></o:p>The
defendant was served with Form 6, Plaintiff/Appellants written submission and
hearing notice by substituted service. The defendant did not file any written
submission and cannot participate in the hearing of the appeal except on the
question of costs. Rule 20(8) of C.I. 19 provides that where a respondent does
not file a written submission or a joint written submission he shall not be
heard on the appeal except on the question of costs.<o:p></o:p>