JULIUS SYLVESTER BORTEY ALABI vs. PARESH & 2 ORS [2016]DLCA5115

Date	2016-06-23
Suit No.	CIVIL APPEAL SUIT NO. H3/404/16
Citation No.	[2016]DLCA5115

P. K GYAESAYOR JA

CEPHAS MORTEY FOR APPLICATION

GEORGE AMISSAH FOR RESPONDENT

[2016]DLCA5115
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													<main id="main" class="content" style="min-height: 60rem" >JULIUS
SYLVESTER BORTEY ALABI<o:p></o:p>(PLAINTIFF/APPELLANT/
APPLICANT)<o:p></o:p>vs.<o:p></o:p>PARESH &amp;
2 ORS<o:p></o:p>(DEFENDANTS/RESPONDENTS/RESPONDENTS)<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>[COURT OF APPEAL, ACCRA]<o:p></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-top:0in;margin-right:0in;
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APPEAL SUIT NO. H3/404/16&nbsp;&nbsp;
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&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: 23RD JUNE, 2016<o:p></o:p>

</div>COUNSEL:<o:p></o:p>CEPHAS
MORTEY FOR APPLICATION<o:p></o:p><div style="mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
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GEORGE
AMISSAH FOR RESPONDENT<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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P.
K GYAESAYOR JA<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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</div>GYAESAYOR,
JA<o:p></o:p>This is a simple
application for extension of time within which to file an appeal in an
interlocutory matter.&nbsp; However, this
simple application has raised a serious legal issue which calls for
determination by the court.<o:p></o:p>On the 11th day
of May 2016, the full bench of the Court of Appeal varied the order of the single
judge dated 12th of April 2016<o:p></o:p>The applicant has evinced
an intention to appeal the decision of the full bench to the Supreme Court.
Being an interlocutory matter per the Rules of C.I.19 the Court of Appeal Rules
and C.I.16, the Supreme Court rules the appellant has 21 days within which to
file an appeal counting from the date of the decision the subject of the
appeal.<o:p></o:p>C.I.19 in Rule 9 deals
with time limits for appealing<o:p></o:p>In 9(1) it is provided
that subject to any other enactment governing appeals, an appeal shall not be
brought after the expiration of;-<o:p></o:p><ol style="margin-top:0in" start="1" type="a">
 <li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">Twenty-one
 days, in the case of an appeal against an interlocutory decision or<o:p></o:p></li>
 <li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">&nbsp;Three months, in the case of an appeal
 against a final decision unless the court below or the court extends the
 time.<o:p></o:p></li>
</ol>2.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The
prescribed period within which an appeal may be brought shall be calculated
from the date of the decision appealed against.<o:p></o:p>3.
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; An appeal is brought when the
notice of appeal is filed in the registry of the court below.<o:p></o:p>4.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; An application for extension of time
within which to appeal shall not be made after the expiration of three months
from the expiration of the time prescribed by this rule within which&nbsp; an appeal&nbsp;
may be brought.<o:p></o:p>Similar provisions are
made in Rule 8 of C.I.16 the Supreme Court rules.<o:p></o:p>The dilemma of this court
is to decide whether I have power to grant the application when both parties
agree that this is an interlocutory appeal which ought to have been filed
within 21 days after the ruling was delivered.<o:p></o:p>In a letter to Her
Ladyship the Chief Justice dated 27th May 2016 and filed on 2nd
June 2016 in the registry of the court, learned counsel for applicant wrote “being
an interlocutory appeal, we have only 21 days under the rules to lodge our
appeal which time will elapse by Tuesday the 31st of May 2016.&nbsp; Unfortunately, due to the ongoing judicial
staff strike, we are constrained in our duty to file the notice of appeal (we
have prepared) before the time limited for lodging same runs. We would, as a matter of urgency, like to
know whether any administrative procedure is available or could be made available
to enable us file our clients appeal before time lapses”. Unfortunately
there was no response from Her Ladyship the Chief Justice.<o:p></o:p>