F.K.A. COMPANY LIMITED AND NII TEIKO OKINE SUBSTITUTED vs. NII AYIKAI AKRAMAH II AND OTHERS [2016]DLSC2854

F.K.A. COMPANY LIMITED AND NII TEIKO OKINE SUBSTITUTED vs. NII AYIKAI AKRAMAH II... [2016]DLSC2854

Date	2016-04-13
Suit No.	CIVIL APPEAL NO. J4/1/2016
Citation No.	[2016]DLSC2854

ATUGUBA JSC (PRESIDING)

ADINYIRA (MRS) JSC

YEBOAH JSC

AKAMBA JSC

APPAU JSC

NII AKWEI BRUCE – THOMPSON ESQ. FOR THE DEFENDANTS /RESPONDENTS/ APPELLANTS.

YAW D. OPPONG ESQ. FOR THE PLAINTIFFS/APPELLANTS/RESPONDENTS.

[2016]DLSC2854
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													<main id="main" class="content" style="min-height: 60rem" >F.K.A. COMPANY LIMITED
AND NII TEIKO OKINE SUBSTITUTED<o:p></o:p>vs.<o:p></o:p>NII AYIKAI AKRAMAH II
AND OTHERS<o:p></o:p>[SUPREME COURT, ACCRA]<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">

CIVIL APPEAL NO. J4/1/2016&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;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;DATE: 13TH
APRIL, 2016<o:p></o:p>

</div>COUNSEL:&nbsp;&nbsp; <o:p></o:p>NII
AKWEI BRUCE – THOMPSON&nbsp;&nbsp; ESQ.&nbsp; FOR THE DEFENDANTS /RESPONDENTS/ APPELLANTS.<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">

YAW
D.&nbsp; OPPONG ESQ. FOR THE
PLAINTIFFS/APPELLANTS/RESPONDENTS.<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;
padding:0in 0in 1.0pt 0in">

ATUGUBA JSC (PRESIDING), ADINYIRA (MRS) JSC,
YEBOAH JSC, AKAMBA JSC, AND APPAU JSC<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;
padding:0in 0in 1.0pt 0in">

JUDGEMENT<o:p></o:p>

</div>AKAMBA,
JSC<o:p></o:p>The
Plaintiff/Appellant/Respondent, hereinafter simply referred to as the
Plaintiff, by a writ of summons issued in the High Court, Accra, on 14th
May 2007 and amended on 12th July 2007, claimed against the
defendants/respondents/appellants, hereinafter simply referred to as the
defendants, the following reliefs, namely: <o:p></o:p>“(a) declaration of title
to all that piece or parcel of land described in the schedule to the statement
of claim; (b) Damages of ȼ300,000,000.00
against the defendants jointly and severally for interfering with Plaintiff’s right
of possession of the land; (c ) Perpetual injunction restraining the
defendants, their agents, assigns and workmen from interfering or dealing with
Plaintiff’s land in any manner detrimental to Plaintiff’s interest.”<o:p></o:p>The High Court, Accra granted an order on the
10th July 2007, whereby the Co-Plaintiff was joined to the suit. <o:p></o:p>By their statement of
defence filed on 28th March 2008, not only did the defendants discount
the claims of the Plaintiff and Co-Plaintiff, they went further and set up a
counterclaim against the plaintiffs.<o:p></o:p>THE
PLAINTIFF’S CASE<o:p></o:p>The Plaintiff is an estate
development company. The plaintiff company obtained three respective parcels of
land situated at Danchira, near Accra from Nii Teiko Okai, the Co-Plaintiff and
head and lawful representative of the Djan Bi Amu family of Accra and Danchira.
The transaction was evidenced by a deed of lease dated 5th June 2001
(exhibits A, B and C). According to the Plaintiff, it went into possession of
the leased lands, properly surveyed same, demarcated and set out roads thereon.
The Plaintiff then took prospective clients of theirs to the land only to be
set upon by the Defendants and prevented from entering thereon amidst threats
of violence. Embarrassed and aggrieved by the defendants’ conduct, the
plaintiff commenced the action in the High Court, Accra claiming the reliefs as
per the writ of summons and the amended statement of claim.<o:p></o:p>The Co-Plaintiff was
joined to the suit at the instance of the Plaintiff and being the grantor of
the leases to the latter. According to the Co-Plaintiff, the disputed land
belongs to his Djan Bi Amu Family since time immemorial and that there are
judgments in support of his assertion. The Co-Plaintiff further contends that
even though some of the Defendants are members of the Djan Bi Amu family they
have no right to alienate Danchira lands, since the lands are not stool lands.<o:p></o:p>DEFENDANTS’ CASE<o:p></o:p>The Defendants’ assert
that the Danchira lands belong to the 1st Defendant’s family together
with three other families which constitute a composite family of four who
jointly own the land. Defendants referred to early settlement on the subject
land by Nuumo Anyetei Akrama with his brother who hailed from Sawerpramano of
the Asere quarter of Accra through whom subsequent heads, said to be warriors
and hunters came to found what is today referred to as Danchira.&nbsp; The Defendants claim that from time
immemorial the four composite families have enjoyed uninterrupted and
undisturbed possession and occupation of the Danchira lands and have exercised
exclusive rights of possession and ownership by farming and granting portions
to several grantees. They also claim that there are several shrines situate on
various portions of the land all of which are worshipped by the Defendants and
their grantees as a testimony to their superior right of ownership and
possession of the land. <o:p></o:p>After a full trial, the
High Court per Tanko</main>