MARGARET KESSIWA AKYIREM vs. DAVIS BORTIEH AND MRS ESTHER ARTHUR [2016]DLHC4218

Date	2016-07-19
Suit No.	SUIT NO. E1/21/2009
Citation No.	[2016]DLHC4218

ALEXANDER OSEI TUTU J.

YAW ASARE DARKO FOR THE PLAINTIFF

NAA DJAMAH AYIKOI OTOO FOR AYIKOI OTOO FOR THE FIRST DEFENDANT

SAMUEL KODJOE FOR THE SECOND DEFENDANT

[2016]DLHC4218
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													<main id="main" class="content" style="min-height: 60rem" ><a name="OLE_LINK1">MARGARET
KESSIWA AKYIREM<o:p></o:p></a>vs.<o:p></o:p>DAVIS BORTIEH AND MRS ESTHER ARTHUR<o:p></o:p>&nbsp;[HIGH COURT (LAND DIVISION), TEMA]<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">

SUIT NO.
E1/21/2009&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &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:
19TH JULY, 2016 <o:p></o:p>

</div>COUNSEL:&nbsp;&nbsp; <o:p></o:p>YAW
ASARE DARKO FOR THE PLAINTIFF <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">

SAMUEL
KODJOE FOR THE SECOND DEFENDANT
<o:p></o:p>

ALEXANDER
OSEI TUTU J. SITTING AS JUSTICE OF THE HIGH COURT<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&nbsp; <o:p></o:p>

</div>On 29th October 2008, the
plaintiff caused her lawyer Yaw Asare Darko to issue a writ against the
defendants for the following reliefs:<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p><ol style="margin-top:0in" start="1" type="a">
 <li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 115%; border: none;">Declaration of title to all
 that piece and parcel of land situate at Baatsonaa, Accra and described as
 land containing an approximate area of 0.32 acres and bounded on the East
 by lessor’s land measuring 100 ft. more or less, on the West by lessor’s
 land measuring 100 ft. more or less, on the North by proposed road
 measuring 140 ft. more or less and on the South by lessor’s land measuring
 140 ft. more or less.<o:p></o:p></li>
 <li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 115%; border: none;">An order for recovery of
 possession of the disputed parcel of land.<o:p></o:p></li>
 <li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 115%; border: none;">Damages for trespass.<o:p></o:p></li>
 <li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 115%; border: none;">Perpetual injunction <o:p></o:p></li>
 <li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 115%; border: none;">Any other equitable or other
 relief as shall be deemed fit and just.<o:p></o:p></li>
</ol><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>In her 12-paragraphed
statement of claim, the plaintiff describes herself as a retired banker and the
beneficial owner entitled to the land in dispute. She claimed to have acquired
the land under a Deed of Conveyance dated 20th December, 2000 from
Numo Borketey Laweh (Gborbu Wulomo) and Nii Bortrabi Obroni II (Mankralo and
acting Nungua Mantse) for and on behalf of the Nungua Stool, for a term of 99
years commencing from the 9th day of December, 2000. Plaintiff was
introduced to her grantors by the first defendant who acted as a witness at all
material times, for which reason he was privy to the whole transaction between
the plaintiff and the grantors. After the lease, plaintiff presented for
registration at the Lands Commission, her documents. Plaintiff took possession
of the land by clearing it in preparation of her developmental projects, before
the defendants trespassed on it and started laying adverse claim. Defendants
have since developed the land at a meteoric pace. It is plaintiff’s case that
the defendants have no title and are therefore estopped from denying her title
to the disputed land. <o:p></o:p>In her reply to the
defendants’ statement of defence, plaintiff explained that she purchased her
land through her agent, Paapa who dealt with the first defendant on her behalf.
The first defendant on his part denied ever meeting the plaintiff. He conceded
that Paapa purchased five (5) plots; three for Mr. Adu Asare and Mrs. Addai and
two for a person whose identity he did not know.&nbsp; He however suspected the unknown purchaser to
be the plaintiff. He contended that Paapa later returned to collect the money
paid on behalf of the plaintiff. He alleged that the plaintiff had expressed
her disinterest in the land due to the undeveloped nature of the location.
According to the first defendant, he, together with his two brothers by names;
Abraham Adjin and Alabi Teiman (hereinafter called the 3 brothers/siblings),
acquired a freehold of 24. 759 acre-land from the Nungua Stool, per Numo
Borketey Laweh (Gborbu Wulome) and Nii Bortrabi Oburoni II (Mankrolo and acting
Nungua Mantse) in 1994. The three brothers proceeded to register the land at
the Land Title Registry, Accra and Certificate Number GA 6038 dated 31st
August, 1994 was issued to them.&nbsp; The
three siblings have since shared their respective portions of the land, though
they hold a common document.<o:p></o:p>&nbsp;<o:p></o:p>Second defendant is also
a purchaser from Teiman Alabi, one of the three brothers of the first
defendant. She purchased her land on 4th March, 2000 and thereafter,
started the registration process. She eventually received her Land Title
Certificate in 2010. It is her case that she immediately moved into possession
after the purchase and put up a fence wall and a two-storey dwelling house on
the land. The second defendant was initially not a party. </main>