CHIJIOKE I. KALU AND OTHERS vs. MRS. FLORENCE N. KALU AND OTHERS [2017]DLHC4026

Date	2017-06-07
Suit No.	SUIT NO. GJ 731/2016
Citation No.	[2017]DLHC4026

KWEKU T. ACKAAH-BOAFO JUSTICE OF THE HIGH COURT

NICOLE-MARIE POKU AND SEAN POKU HOLD

THADDEUS SORY’S BRIEF FOR THE PLAINTIFFS

MR. EMMANUEL HAMMOND FOR THE 1ST & 2ND DEFENDANTS

[2017]DLHC4026
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													<main id="main" class="content" style="min-height: 60rem" >CHIJIOKE I. KALU AND
OTHERS<o:p></o:p>vs.<o:p></o:p>MRS. FLORENCE N. KALU AND OTHERS<o:p></o:p>&nbsp;[HIGH COURT
(GENERAL JURISDICTION DIVISION), ACCRA]<o:p></o:p><div style="mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
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SUIT&nbsp;NO. GJ 731/2016&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; DATE: 7TH JUNE, 2017<o:p></o:p>

</div>COUNSEL:<o:p></o:p>NICOLE-MARIE POKU AND SEAN
POKU HOLD THADDEUS SORY’S BRIEF FOR THE PLAINTIFFS <o:p></o:p><div style="mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
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</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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KWEKU T. ACKAAH-BOAFO JUSTICE OF THE HIGH COURT<o:p></o:p>

</div><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-top:1.45pt;margin-right:0in;
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<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-top:1.45pt;margin-right:0in;
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mso-border-bottom-alt:solid windowtext 1.5pt;padding:0in;mso-padding-alt:0in 0in 1.0pt 0in">JUDGMENT<o:p></o:p>

</div>i.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Introduction:<o:p></o:p>[1]&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; There are no
“winners” in this litigation. While a judgment such as this may permit the burial
of the late Dr. Michael I. Kalu (deceased), there can be no assurance that the
relationship between the parties herein will be completely ever repaired. This
is a case between brothers as the Plaintiffs and a mother as 1st Defendant and
a daughter and sister of the Plaintiffs as 2nd Defendant. And the subject
matter of the dispute is about the mortal remains of the Plaintiffs’ and the
2nd Defendant’s father and the husband of the 1st Defendant. Based on the life
worth of the deceased as presented to the Court and taking into consideration
the professional standings of the parties, in the opinion of the Court his life
ought to have been celebrated rather than his passing being litigated.<o:p></o:p>[2]&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Quite
clearly, this is one case that is most suited for the Alternative Dispute
Resolution (ADR) program especially because all the parties are of the same nuclear
family. It is certainly a case of fractured relationships and I am of the
respectful view that mediation could have provided the soothing balm the
parties need to mend their relationship at a time that they have lost a
stalwart of their family. It is therefore a sad case that in spite of the
option of mediation offered the parties failed to use same. <o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>ii&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Brief Facts/Background<o:p></o:p>[3]&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The
facts of the case are that Dr. Michael I. Kalu (hereinafter called “Deceased”),
a Nigerian national. died in Ghana on May 14, 2016. He is the father of the
Plaintiffs and the husband of the 1st Defendant and also the father of the 2nd
Defendant. Upon his death, the Plaintiffs (except the 3rd Plaintiff) were
informed by the 2nd Defendant. The 3rd Plaintiff who the Defendants allege was
disowned by the Deceased came to Ghana to transport the mortal remains of the
deceased to Nigeria. The events which followed precipitated this lawsuit. The
main issue in this dispute for my consideration is easy to state but
challenging to resolve and it is the place the deceased should be buried and
who has the right to make that decision.<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>iii&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Issues for Determination<o:p></o:p>[4]&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The
Plaintiffs by their Amended Writ of Summons accompanied by Statement of Claim
issued from the registry of this Honourable Court on June 10, 2016 claim
against the Defendants </main>