ABDULAI MAHAMADU AND NAA SULE ALHASSAN vs. KAMPA KUYA NAA AND KPAN-NAA BAWAH MAHAMADU [2017]DLSC4401

ABDULAI MAHAMADU AND NAA SULE ALHASSAN vs. KAMPA KUYA NAA AND KPAN-NAA BAWAH MA... [2017]DLSC4401

Date	2017-07-12
Suit No.	CIVIL APPEAL NO: J4/23/2015
Citation No.	[2017]DLSC4401

ATUGUBA JSC (PRESIDING)

DOTSE JSC

YEBOAH JSC

GBADEGBE JSC

BENIN JSC

SHAHADU MOHAMMED FOR THE DEFENDANTS/ APPELLANTS/ APPELLANTS

CHARLES AGBANU FOR THE PLAINTIFFS/RESPONDENTS/RESPONDENTS

[2017]DLSC4401
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													<main id="main" class="content" style="min-height: 60rem" >ABDULAI MAHAMADU AND NAA
SULE ALHASSAN<o:p></o:p>&nbsp;(PLAINTIFFS/RESPONDENTS)<o:p></o:p>vs.<o:p></o:p>KAMPA KUYA NAA AND
KPAN-NAA BAWAH MAHAMADU<o:p></o:p>&nbsp;(DEFENDANTS/APPELLANTS)<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>[SUPREME COURT, ACCRA]<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:&nbsp;
J4/23/2015&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &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: 12TH JULY, 2017<o:p></o:p>

</div>COUNSEL:&nbsp;&nbsp; <o:p></o:p>SHAHADU MOHAMMED FOR THE
DEFENDANTS/ APPELLANTS/ APPELLANTS<o:p></o:p><div style="mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
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CHARLES
AGBANU FOR THE PLAINTIFFS/RESPONDENTS/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;
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ATUGUBA
JSC (PRESIDING), DOTSE JSC, YEBOAH JSC, GBADEGBE JSC, BENIN 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;
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JUDGMENT<o:p></o:p>

</div>YEBOAH,
JSC:-<o:p></o:p>This appeal raises a procedural issue which has on
regular basis plagued appellate courts in common law jurisdictions for
centuries.&nbsp; It is the issue of whether an
order/judgment is interlocutory or final in nature.<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>To appreciate the reasons for this judgment a
brief account of the facts culminating in this appeal will suffice.&nbsp; The plaintiff/respondent/respondent, who, for
sake of brevity shall be referred to as the respondent issued a writ of summons
at the High Court, Tamale on 26/07/12 for the following reliefs:<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>a.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
A declaration
that as a former Ya-Na of the Dagbon Traditional Area, the late Ya-Na Mahamadu
Abdulai IV is entitled to be accorded full funeral rites in accordance with
Dagbon Constitution and Customary practice.<o:p></o:p>b.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
An order
compelling the 1st defendant as the Regent of Dagbon and their
elders to perform or cause to be performed the funeral rites of the late Ya-Na
Mahamadu Abudulai IV.<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>The defendants/appellants/appellants who shall
(henceforth be referred to as the appellants) entered appearance and filed
their statement of defence on 16/08/2012.&nbsp;
The record shows that several interlocutory applications were filed but
it appeared that none was pursued by the parties and therefore are not
necessary for the determination of this appeal as the appeal before us does not
turn on any of the interlocutory applications.<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>After the filling of application for directions,
the court fixed the 21/06/2013 for the directions.&nbsp; On that day counsel for the defendant was the
only counsel present and he applied to the court for issue one (1) set out in
the application for directions to be set down for preliminary trial by legal
arguments under Order 33 rules 3 and 5 of CI 47.<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>The issue (1) states thus:<o:p></o:p>