FIRST ATLANTIC BANK LIMITED vs. VIVIAN ATAKORA (a.k.a.) MRS. VIVIAN MARFO) [2016]DLHC11575

Date	2016-06-28
Suit No.	BFS/88/2015
Citation No.	[2016]DLHC11575

HER LADYSHIP JUSTICE AKUA SARPOMAA AMOAH (MRS.)

CLAUDE OPPON FOR THE PLAINTIFF PRESENT

HAMZA ALHASAN FOR THE DEFENDANT PRESENT

[2016]DLHC11575
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													<main id="main" class="content" style="min-height: 60rem" >FIRST ATLANTIC BANK LIMITED<o:p></o:p>(PLAINTIFF)<o:p></o:p>vs.<o:p></o:p>VIVIAN ATAKORA (a.k.a.) MRS. VIVIAN MARFO)<o:p></o:p>(DEFENDANT)<o:p></o:p>[HIGH COURT, ACCRA]<o:p></o:p><div style="border-top: none; border-right: none; border-left: none; border-image: initial; border-bottom-width: 1.5pt; border-bottom-color: windowtext; padding: 0cm 0cm 1pt;">

</div>COUNSEL:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<o:p></o:p>CLAUDE OPPON FOR THE PLAINTIFF PRESENT<o:p></o:p><div style="border-top: none; border-right: none; border-left: none; border-image: initial; border-bottom-width: 1.5pt; border-bottom-color: windowtext; padding: 0cm 0cm 1pt;">

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:
justify;tab-stops:175.8pt;border:none;mso-border-bottom-alt:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
padding:0cm;mso-padding-alt:0cm 0cm 1.0pt 0cm">HAMZA ALHASAN FOR THE
DEFENDANT PRESENT<o:p></o:p>

</div>CORAM:<o:p></o:p>HER LADYSHIP JUSTICE AKUA SARPOMAA AMOAH
(MRS.)<o:p></o:p><div style="border-top-width: 1.5pt; border-top-color: windowtext; border-left: none; border-bottom-width: 1.5pt; border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-right: none; padding: 1pt 0cm;">

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

</div>&nbsp;The facts that have spawned
the present litigation are fairly straightforward. <o:p></o:p>The Defendant, a customer of
Plaintiff bank applied for and was granted an overdraft facility in the sum of
Twenty Thousand Ghana Cedis (GH¢20, 000.00) to augment her working capital.
Plaintiff avers that the overdraft facility was to attract an agreed interest
rate of 23% per annum with a penal rate of 3.5% over and above the agreed rate
in the event of the Defendant’s account being overdrawn or payments becoming
overdue. The facility granted was secured with a mortgage over Defendant’s
property situate at Ablekuma, Accra.&nbsp; It
is the case of the Plaintiff that Defendant, at&nbsp;
the expiration of the facility, had fallen into arrears of&nbsp; payment and that her indebtedness to
Plaintiff stood at One Hundred and Ninety-Three Thousand, Six Hundred and
Sixty-Three Ghana Cedis, Twelve Pesewas (GH¢193,663.12) as at 31st October,
2014.&nbsp; The Defendant, however had in
spite of repeated demands on her to make good her indebtedness failed or
refused to do so.&nbsp; It is for this reason
that the Plaintiff on the 19th of February, 2015 issued the present writ,
claiming the followings against Defendant:<o:p></o:p>a)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; An order for payment of the sum of One
hundred and Ninety Three thousand, Six Hundred and Sixty Three Ghana Cedis,
Twelve Pesewas (193, 663.12) being the balance due and owing on the facilities
granted Plaintiff.<o:p></o:p>b).
Interest on the said sum of One Hundred and Ninety Three Thousand and Sixty
three Thousand Cedis (193,663.12) at the agreed interest rate of 26.5% per
annum from 16th September, 2014 to date of final payment.<o:p></o:p>c.)
Further or in the alternative an order for judicial sale of Defendant’s
property described in the Statement of Claim and used as collateral security
for the said facility.<o:p></o:p>d)
Costs.<o:p></o:p>&nbsp;The Defendant disputes the
Plaintiff’s claim.&nbsp; Her defence is
basically that the Plaintiff neither explained the terms of the facility to her
nor advised her to engage legal Counsel even though she is illiterate.&nbsp; She admitted taking an overdraft facility of
Twenty Thousand Ghana Cedis (GH¢20, 000.00) but explained that the&nbsp; facility was a “supplier credit” by which
Plaintiff&nbsp; made payments directly to
suppliers&nbsp; and debited her&nbsp; account&nbsp;
as and when such payments were made and after she had taken delivery of
the goods in question.&nbsp; She denied
Plaintiff’s assertion that the overdraft had fallen into arrears and contended
that the balance attributed to her was wrong and overstated.<o:p></o:p>The following issues were
set down for determination at the trial.<o:p></o:p>a.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Whether or not Defendant as at the 31st
day of October, 2014 was indebted to the Plaintiff in the sum of One Hundred
and Ninety-Three Thousand, Six Hundred and Sixty-Three Ghana Cedis, Twelve
Pesewas (GH¢193,663.12).<o:p></o:p>b.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Whether or not debits to the
Defendant’s account were authorized by the Defendant.<o:p></o:p>c.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Whether or not the facility termed by the
Plaintiff as an overdraft facility was in real terms a supplier’s credit.<o:p></o:p>d.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Whether or not Defendant is literate.<o:p></o:p>At the trial, Plaintiff bank
was represented by its head of recoveries, BEDFORD
AKUFFO DUAH. His evidence was essentially in line with his pleadings. He
tendered in evidence the following exhibits:<o:p></o:p>EXHIBIT
A – THE FACILITY LETTER<o:p></o:p>EXHIBIT
B AND B1 - DEFENDANT’S STATEMENT OF ACCOUNT<o:p></o:p>EXHIBIT
C - INDENTURE OF DEFENDANT’S PROPERTY SITUATE AT ABLEKUMA, ACCRA PROVIDED AS
COLLATERAL SECURITY FOR THE FACILITY<o:p></o:p>