ABDUL MUMUNI BAGIGAH vs. VINCENT DEKU, KOFI ATTUAH ASANTE [2016]DLHC11890

Date	2016-03-23
Suit No.	SUIT NO. FAL 429/11
Citation No.	[2016]DLHC11890

HER LADYSHIP JUSTICE PATIENCE-MILLS TETTEH

ISAAC AIDOO FOR PLAINTIFF

KOFI EDEM PENTEY FOR 1ST DEFENDANT

SEYRAM DABI FOR 2ND DEFENDANT

[2016]DLHC11890
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													<main id="main" class="content" style="min-height: 60rem" >ABDUL
MUMUNI BAGIGAH<o:p></o:p>(PLAINTIFF)<o:p></o:p>vs.<o:p></o:p><a name="_heading=h.gjdgxs"></a>VINCENT DEKU, KOFI ATTUAH ASANTE<o:p></o:p>(DEFENDANTS)<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: black; padding: 0cm 0cm 1pt;">

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:
justify;line-height:normal;border:none;mso-border-bottom-alt:solid black 1.5pt;
padding:0cm;mso-padding-alt:0cm 0cm 1.0pt 0cm">SUIT NO. FAL 429/11&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &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&nbsp;MARCH 2016<o:p></o:p>

</div>COUNSEL&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&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 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;line-height:normal;border:none;mso-border-bottom-alt:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
padding:0cm;mso-padding-alt:0cm 0cm 1.0pt 0cm">ISAAC AIDOO FOR PLAINTIFF <o:p></o:p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:
justify;line-height:normal;border:none;mso-border-bottom-alt:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
padding:0cm;mso-padding-alt:0cm 0cm 1.0pt 0cm">KOFI EDEM PENTEY FOR 1ST
DEFENDANT<o:p></o:p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:
justify;line-height:normal;border:none;mso-border-bottom-alt:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
padding:0cm;mso-padding-alt:0cm 0cm 1.0pt 0cm">SEYRAM DABI FOR 2ND
DEFENDANT<o:p></o:p>

</div>CORAM<o:p></o:p>HER LADYSHIP JUSTICE PATIENCE-MILLS
TETTEH<o:p></o:p><div style="border-top-width: 1.5pt; border-top-color: black; border-left: none; border-bottom-width: 1.5pt; border-bottom-color: black; border-right: none; padding: 1pt 0cm;">

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

</div>The
plaintiff and the 1st defendant assert
rival claims to a property situate at New Weija and purchased by both from a
common vendor. Unlike the plaintiff, there is evidence of overt acts of
possession and occupation by the 1st defendant. The plaintiff will only succeed in an
action for trespass against the 1st defendant
if he proves that as between him and the 1st defendant, the right of possession
is vested in him. In the absence of proof of right of immediate possession by
the plaintiff and adverse possession by the 1st defendant
the dispute should be resolved in favour of the 1st defendant who is in occupation.<o:p></o:p>&nbsp;Possession is&nbsp; defined in OSBORN’S CONCISE LAW
DICTIONARY 8th edition
as physical detention coupled with the intention to hold the thing detained as
one’s own. Possession has two
elements; the physical possession of a thing and the intention to appropriate
to oneself the exclusive use of the thing possessed. Possession is prima facie
evidence of ownership.<o:p></o:p>&nbsp;A person is said to be in possession of a land when that
person is in occupation or has some kind of physical control of the land. The kind of
conduct which amounts to possession and occupation, and the fact that proof of
long possession or occupation is prima facie proof of ownership, has been
determined by our courts in a plethora of cases such as ANTO v. MENSAH [1958]
3WALR, WUTA OFEI v. DANQUAH 1961 GLR, MIEH v. ASUBONTENG [1963] 2 GLR,&nbsp; NUNEKPEKU
v. AMETEPE [1966] GLR, AIDOO v. ADJEI [1976] 1GLR, and ASARE
v. APPAU II [1984-86] 1 GLR.<o:p></o:p>