MUSAMA DISCO CHRISTO CHURCH vs. PROPHET MIRITAIAH JONA JEHU-APPIAH [2015]DLSC3254

Date	2015-11-11
Suit No.	CIVIL APPEAL NO. J4/31/2012
Citation No.	[2015]DLSC3254

ATUGUBA JSC (PRESIDING)

ADINYIRA (MRS) JSC

GBADEGBE JSC

BENIN JSC

AKAMBA JSC

GUSTAV ADDINGTON ESQ. FOR THE DEFENDANT /APPELLANT/ APPELLANT.

ALEX ABBAN ESQ. LED BY KWEKU ASIRIF ESQ. FOR THE PLAINTIFF/ RESPONDENT/ RESPONDENT.

[2015]DLSC3254
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													<main id="main" class="content" style="min-height: 60rem" >MUSAMA
DISCO CHRISTO CHURCH<o:p></o:p>vs.<o:p></o:p>PROPHET
MIRITAIAH JONA JEHU-APPIAH<o:p></o:p>&nbsp; [SUPREME COURT,
ACCRA]<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">

CIVIL
APPEAL NO. J4/31/2012&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:
11TH NOVEMBER,
2015<o:p></o:p>

</div>COUNSEL:&nbsp;&nbsp; <o:p></o:p>GUSTAV
ADDINGTON ESQ. FOR THE DEFENDANT /APPELLANT/ APPELLANT.<o:p></o:p><div style="mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
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&nbsp;ALEX ABBAN ESQ. LED BY KWEKU ASIRIF ESQ.&nbsp; FOR THE PLAINTIFF/ RESPONDENT/ RESPONDENT.<o:p></o:p>

</div>CORAM:
<o:p></o:p>ATUGUBA JSC
(PRESIDING), ADINYIRA (MRS) JSC, GBADEGBE JSC,<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">

BENIN JSC, AND AKAMBA
JSC&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;&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;<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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JUDGEMENT<o:p></o:p>

</div>ATUGUBA, J.S.C:<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>FACTS:<o:p></o:p>The
Defendant/Appellant/Appellant (hereinafter called the ‘defendant’) is the
leader (Akaboha) and the head of the Plaintiff/Respondent/Respondent
(hereinafter called the ‘plaintiff-Church).&nbsp;
In 2002, Bold and Beautiful (a periodical) published an article alleging
that the defendant had drugged and raped a JSS girl.&nbsp; Scandalized by this, the executive council of
the plaintiff church met and urged the defendant to institute a libel action
against the publishers of the periodical.&nbsp;
The defendant however only pleaded that the plaintiff church should
rather ‘appeal’ to the publishers to stop further similar publications.&nbsp; The executive council then set an
investigative committee to delve into the allegation.&nbsp; The investigative committee found that the
defendant had indeed committed the act he had been accused of and had also
committed other sexual misconduct contrary to the Church’s constitution and
Bible.&nbsp; The defendant’s reaction was that
he was reserving his comment but would undertake a 21-day fast with prayers for
the forgiveness of sins and would compensate his sex victims.&nbsp; He was suspended and later the plaintiff
church’s I’Odomey conference (the general annual assembly of the plaintiff
church which according to the constitution of the church is the governing body
of the Church), reached a consensus to remove him from office.&nbsp; Whilst trying to formulate its consensus,
some family members of the defendant invaded and disrupted the conference.&nbsp; The defendant was later formally removed but
some of his family members challenged the said removal claiming that the
Akaboha or head holds the office for life and cannot be removed.<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>Trial
Court<o:p></o:p>The plaintiff church
brought an action against the defendant in the High Court claiming the
following:<o:p></o:p>a.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; A declaration that the
defendant, Prophet Miritaiah Jonah Jehu-Appiah, the Akaboha III or Leader and
General Head Prophet of the Musama Disco Christo Church, based at Mozano, Gomoa
Eshiem, has been lawfully and permanently removed from the post or office of
Akaboha or Leader and General Head Prophet of the said Church as from Friday 14
February 2003.<o:p></o:p>b.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; A consequential
declaration that the defendant has been ipso
facto removed or deposed from all ancillary post or offices, religious or
secular, affiliated to or associated with the said Church.<o:p></o:p>