ISSIFU AYARIGA FATI AYARIGA vs. MICHAEL PUTO SUGRE [2017]DLCA4922

Date	2017-12-21
Suit No.	CIVIL APPEAL NO: H1/59/2017
Citation No.	[2017]DLCA4922

E. K. AYEBI J.A. (PRESIDING)

G. TORKORNOO (MRS) J.A.

A. M. DOMAKYAAREH (MRS.) J.A.

BRIGETTE AKATTAH FOR 1ST DEFENDANT/APPELLANT

NANA SAKYIWAA FOR PLAINTIFF/RESPONDENT

[2017]DLCA4922
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													<main id="main" class="content" style="min-height: 60rem" >ISSIFU AYARIGA <o:p></o:p>(1ST
DEFENDANT/APPELLANT)<o:p></o:p>FATI AYARIGA<o:p></o:p>(2ND
DEFENDANT)<o:p></o:p>&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;vs.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <o:p></o:p>MICHAEL PUTO SUGRE<o:p></o:p>(PLAINTIFF/RESPONDENT)<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>[COURT OF APPEAL, KUMASI]<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: H1/59/2017&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: 21ST DECEMBER,
2017<o:p></o:p>

</div>COUNSEL:<o:p></o:p>BRIGETTE
AKATTAH FOR 1ST 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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NANA
SAKYIWAA FOR PLAINTIFF/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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E.
K. AYEBI J.A. (PRESIDING), G.
TORKORNOO (MRS) J.A., A. M.
DOMAKYAAREH (MRS.) J.A.<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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JUDGMENT<o:p></o:p>

</div>AYEBI,
JA<o:p></o:p>1.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
The
sole issue for resolution in this appeal is whether or not trial judge
conducted the trial in accordance with the provisions of Rule 1 of Order 36 of
the High Court (Civil Procedure) Rules, 2004 (C.I. 47) on “Proceedings at the
Trial”.&nbsp; That rule is headed “Failure to
attend at trial”.&nbsp; The rule provides:<o:p></o:p>“Subrule (1):&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; where an action is called for trial and all the
parties fail to attend, the trial judge may strike the action off the trial
list.<o:p></o:p>(2):&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Where
an action is called for trial and a party fails to attend, the trial judge may <o:p></o:p>(a)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; where
the plaintiff attends and the defendant fails to attend, dismiss the
counterclaim if any, and allow the plaintiff to prove the claim,<o:p></o:p>(b)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; where
the defendant attends and the plaintiff fails to attend, dismiss the action and
allow the defendant to prove the counterclaim, if any, or<o:p></o:p>(c)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; make
such other order as is just”.<o:p></o:p>2.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
In
view of the fact that the issue to be resolved is procedural rather than factual,
the gist of the facts of the case will suffice.&nbsp;
In 2006, the 1st defendant/appellant sold his house No. Plot
44 Block</main>