ALHAJI HUSEIN CHIBSA vs. THE COMMISSIONER GENERAL AND 3 OTHERS [2017]DLHC3464

Date	2017-10-15
Suit No.	SUIT NO: OCC/42/15
Citation No.	[2017]DLHC3464

GEORGE K. KOOMSON JUSTICE OF THE HIGH COURT

BENJAMINE TACHIE-ANTIE FOR EVA OKYERE (WITH JAMES K.BOAKYE &

PRISCILLA AGUDEY) FOR PLAINTIFF/RESPONDENT

FREEMAN SARBAH FOR DEFENDANT/APPLICANT.

<p class="mb-5" id="contentDlCitation"  hidden>[2017]DLHC3464</p>
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													<main id="main" class="content" style="min-height: 60rem" ><span style="font-size: 18px !important;"><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;mso-pagination:none;
border:none;mso-padding-alt:31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt;mso-border-shadow:yes"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:
115%;font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;color:#00B0F0">ALHAJI HUSEIN CHIBSA<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;mso-pagination:none;
border:none;mso-padding-alt:31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt;mso-border-shadow:yes"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:
115%;font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;color:#00B0F0">vs.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;mso-pagination:none;
border:none;mso-padding-alt:31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt;mso-border-shadow:yes"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:
115%;font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;color:#00B0F0">THE COMMISSIONER GENERAL
AND 3 OTHERS<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;mso-pagination:none;
border:none;mso-padding-alt:31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt;mso-border-shadow:yes"><b><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: &quot;Book Antiqua&quot;, serif;">[HIGH COURT (COMMERCIAL
DIVISION), ACCRA]<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;mso-pagination:none;border:none;
mso-padding-alt:31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt;mso-border-shadow:yes"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: &quot;Book Antiqua&quot;, serif;">SUIT NO: OCC/42/15&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;12<sup>TH</sup>
OCTOBER, 2017<o:p></o:p></span></p><div style="mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
padding:31.0pt 31.0pt 1.0pt 31.0pt;mso-border-shadow:yes">

</div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;mso-pagination:none;border:none;
mso-padding-alt:0in 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: &quot;Book Antiqua&quot;, serif;">COUNSEL</span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: &quot;Book Antiqua&quot;, serif;">:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;mso-pagination:none;border:none;
mso-padding-alt:31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt;mso-border-shadow:yes"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: &quot;Book Antiqua&quot;, serif;">BENJAMINE TACHIE-ANTIE FOR EVA OKYERE (WITH JAMES K.BOAKYE &amp;
PRISCILLA AGUDEY) FOR PLAINTIFF/RESPONDENT <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;mso-pagination:none;border:none;
mso-padding-alt:31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt;mso-border-shadow:yes"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: &quot;Book Antiqua&quot;, serif;">FREEMAN SARBAH FOR DEFENDANT/APPLICANT. <o:p></o:p></span></p><div style="mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
padding:0in 31.0pt 1.0pt 31.0pt">

</div><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;mso-pagination:none;
border:none;mso-padding-alt:0in 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: &quot;Book Antiqua&quot;, serif;">RULING<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><div style="mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
padding:0in 31.0pt 1.0pt 31.0pt">

</div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:6.0pt;text-align:justify;mso-pagination:
none;border:none;mso-padding-alt:31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt;mso-border-shadow:
yes"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: &quot;Book Antiqua&quot;, serif;">This is an application to set aside the default judgment entered
against the defendants in November, 2016. I have read the application and the
affidavit in support. I have also listened to both counsel for and against the
application. I recognise that there are two contradictory search reports on the
docket filed by both parties. It is however true that the defendants filed a
notice of a conditional appearance as far back as 9<sup>th </sup>June, 2015
@2:56pm. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:6.0pt;text-align:justify;mso-pagination:
none;border:none;mso-padding-alt:31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt;mso-border-shadow:
yes"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: &quot;Book Antiqua&quot;, serif;">The only inference I can draw from these facts is that whoever
answered the search conducted by the plaintiff put down false information
thereby misleading the plaintiff into filing the motion for judgment in default
of appearance. I do not want to believe that the notice of conditional
appearance on the case docket was backdated by someone after the default
judgment was entered. In any case, it is better and serves the ends of justice
for a court to strive to determine cases on merit. For the following reasons, I
grant the application to set aside the default judgment entered in November,
2016. Accordingly the default judgment entered on the 24<sup>th </sup>November,
2016 is hereby set aside. The case is to take its normal course. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p>

</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:6.0pt;text-align:justify;mso-pagination:
none;border:none;mso-padding-alt:31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt;mso-border-shadow:
yes"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: &quot;Book Antiqua&quot;, serif;"><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></p></span></main>