JIBRIL MAHAMA vs. AKWASI MENSAH [2018]DLCA4938

Date	2018-06-21
Suit No.	CIVIL APPEAL NO: H1/57/2018
Citation No.	[2018]DLCA4938

F. G. KORBIEH JA (PRESIDING)

E. K. AYEBI JA

CECILIA H. SOWAH JA

MR. AGYABENG AKRASI FOR PLAINTIFF/APPELLANT

MR. BENONI KUDZE FOR DEFENDANT/RESPONDENT

[2018]DLCA4938
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													<main id="main" class="content" style="min-height: 60rem" >JIBRIL MAHAMA <o:p></o:p>(PLAINTIFF/APPELLANT)<o:p></o:p>vs.<o:p></o:p>AKWASI MENSAH <o:p></o:p>(DEFENDANT/RESPONDENT)<o:p></o:p>[COURT OF APPEAL, 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: H1/57/2018&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &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 JUNE, 2018<o:p></o:p>

</div>COUNSEL:<o:p></o:p>MR. AGYABENG AKRASI FOR
PLAINTIFF/APPELLANT<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">

MR.
BENONI KUDZE FOR DEFENDANT/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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F.
G. KORBIEH JA (PRESIDING), E. K. AYEBI JA, CECILIA H. SOWAH JA <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
issue to resolve in this appeal is whether or not the trial judge exercised his
discretion properly when he heard the defendant/appellant’s motion for leave to
amend the statement of defence which was later in time to the plaintiff/appellant’s
motion for judgment on admission.<o:p></o:p>2.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
In
the suit itself the plaintiff/appellant (hereinafter referred to as plaintiff)
sued for a declaration of title to a piece of land situate and lying at Dome
Pillar 2 Transformer Junction, an order for specific performance, perpetual
injunction, recovery of possession and costs.&nbsp;
In the accompanying statement of claim, plaintiff pleaded at paragraph 4
that:<o:p></o:p>“Plaintiff avers that it was a term of the sale and
purchase agreement he entered into with defendant that he was to pay
GH¢40,000.00 to defendant whilst the remaining balance of GH¢30,000.00 “shall
be paid after the transfer” of the necessary land documents”.<o:p></o:p>3.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
The
subsequent paragraphs in the statement of claim state that despite the payment
of the GH¢40,000.00 which the defendant acknowledged, he had refused to give to
the plaintiff the documents of transfer despite repeated demands.&nbsp; The defendant, the plaintiff alleged
trespassed on the land by re-sealing a foundation he dug, which action clearly
envinced an intention to sell the land to a third party.<o:p></o:p>4.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
A
lawyer entered an appearance for the defendant and filed a statement of defence
on his behalf.&nbsp; In paragraph one,
defendant averred that that “save as hereinafter expressly admitted the
defendant denies each and every material allegations of fact contained in the
statement of claim.&nbsp; In paragraph (4),
the defendant pleaded:<o:p></o:p>“In further denial, the defendant will contend that the
said plot of land was to be sold to the plaintiff for GH¢70,000.00 and the
plaintiff paid GH¢40,000.00 leaving a balance of GH¢30,000.00 to be paid after
the transfer of the document thereof”.<o:p></o:p><!--[if !sup</main>