MARY L. LAMPTEY AND MR. P. K. ASSAN vs. J. K. ODEI AND MR. BADU. [2016]DLCA5322

Date	2016-02-26
Suit No.	CIVIL APPEAL NO. H1/139/2016
Citation No.	[2016]DLCA5322

OFOE J.A. (PRESIDING)

LARBI J.A.

SOWAH J.A.

MR. STANLEY BOYE QUAYE FOR 2ND DEFENDANT/APPELLANT

SACKAR CHAMBERS FOR RESPONDENT

[2016]DLCA5322
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													<main id="main" class="content" style="min-height: 60rem" >MARY L. LAMPTEY AND MR.
P. K. ASSAN<o:p></o:p>(PLAINTIFFS/RESPONDENTS)<o:p></o:p>vs.<o:p></o:p>J. K. ODEI AND MR. BADU.<o:p></o:p>(2ND DEFENDANT/APPELLANT)<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;
mso-bidi-font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;
mso-ansi-language:EN-GB"><o:p></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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CIVIL APPEAL NO. H1/139/2016&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &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: 26TH
FEBRUARY, 2016<o:p></o:p>

</div>COUNSEL:&nbsp;&nbsp; <o:p></o:p>MR. STANLEY BOYE QUAYE FOR
2ND DEFENDANT/APPELLANT<o:p></o:p><div style="mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
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SACKAR
CHAMBERS 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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OFOE
J.A. (PRESIDING), LARBI J.A., SOWAH J.A. <o:p></o:p>

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

</div>SOWAH,&nbsp; J.A.:<o:p></o:p>The
parties in this appeal will be referred to by their designations at the trial
court. <o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>Background Facts<o:p></o:p>This
appeal is from the judgment of the appellate High Court dated 27th
June 2012 which upheld the judgment of the trial court and dismissed the appeal
of the 2nd defendant/appellant/appellant. The case originated from
the District Magistrates Court, Adjabeng where the plaintiff's/respondents/respondents
filed a claim for declaration of title to two plots of land, recovery of
possession, general damages for trespass and perpetual injunction. <o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>The
1st defendant filed a statement of defence averring that the plots
of land in dispute belonged to the 2nd defendant, but the 2nd
defendant had authorized him to sell the plots and they had been sold to the
plaintiff's. The 2nd defendant in his statement of defence denied
selling any land to the plaintiff. He alleged that the plaintiff's connived to
sell his land and were trespassers. He counterclaimed seeking that they vacated
the land or paid its price of GHc150, 000.00. In an amended statement of
defence he denied authorizing the 1st defendant to sell the plots to the
plaintiff's. The only witness was called by the plaintiff's. PW1 had been
mentioned by the 2nd defendant in his statement of defence as having interceded
on behalf of the plaintiff's. However, he gave evidence which amply
corroborated 1st plaintiff’s account. He testified that the&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 2nd defendant had told people including
himself PW1 to find prospective buyers of his land. It is on the record [at
page 75] that the 1st defendant died in the course of the trial
before the defendants were called upon to open their defence.<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>In
the judgment dated 23rd June 2011 [at page 87-96 of the record of
appeal], the learned trial Judge on evaluating the evidence adduced by the
parties, made primary findings of fact and concluded that the 2nd defendant had
authorized the 1st defendant to sell his plots of land albeit not by a power of
attorney. She found as fact</main>