[2018]DLHC7240 Login to Read Full Case <span style="font-size: 18px !important;"><p class="MsoNoSpacing" align="center" style="text-align:center;line-height:115%"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height: 115%;font-family:"Book Antiqua","serif";color:#00B0F0">DR. GIDEON YAO AMENYEDOR<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" align="center" style="text-align:center;line-height:115%"><i><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif;">(PLAINTIFF)<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" align="center" style="text-align:center;line-height:115%"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height: 115%;font-family:"Book Antiqua","serif";color:#00B0F0">vs.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" align="center" style="text-align:center;line-height:115%"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height: 115%;font-family:"Book Antiqua","serif";color:#00B0F0">IDEAL FINANCE COMPANY LIMITED<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" align="center" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt;text-align:center; line-height:115%"><i><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif;">(DEFENDANT)<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" align="center" style="text-align:center;line-height:115%"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif;">[HIGH COURT, ACCRA]<o:p></o:p></span></p><div style="mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.5pt; padding:0in 0in 1.0pt 0in"> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" align="center" style="text-align:center;line-height:115%; border:none;mso-border-bottom-alt:solid windowtext 1.5pt;padding:0in; mso-padding-alt:0in 0in 1.0pt 0in"><b><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif;">SUIT NO. GJ/1408/2018</span></b><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif;"> DATE: 21<sup>ST</sup> NOVEMBER, 2018<o:p></o:p></span></p> </div><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height:115%"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif;">COUNSEL:<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><div style="mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.5pt; padding:0in 0in 1.0pt 0in"> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height:115%;border:none;mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext 1.5pt;padding:0in;mso-padding-alt:0in 0in 1.0pt 0in"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif;">WISDOM ANTHONIO FOR THE PLAINTIFF/APPLICANT<o:p></o:p></span></p> </div><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height:115%"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif;">CORAM:<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><div style="mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.5pt; padding:0in 0in 1.0pt 0in"> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height:115%;border:none;mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext 1.5pt;padding:0in;mso-padding-alt:0in 0in 1.0pt 0in"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif;">GEORGE K. KOOMSON (J)<o:p></o:p></span></p> </div><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height:115%"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p><div style="mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.5pt; padding:0in 0in 1.0pt 0in"> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" align="center" style="text-align:center;line-height:115%; border:none;mso-border-bottom-alt:solid windowtext 1.5pt;padding:0in; mso-padding-alt:0in 0in 1.0pt 0in"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif;">RULING<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </div><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: "Book Antiqua", serif;">This is an application for Summary Judgement. I have read the application and the supporting affidavit. Although the Defendant was served with the motion on the 9<sup>th </sup>November, 2018, it has failed to file an affidavit in opposition. I have given regard to the statement of defence filed on the 19<sup>th </sup>October, 2018. Thoughtful consideration has also been given to Order 14 rule 1 of CI. 47 which provides that: <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:1.0in;text-align:justify;mso-pagination: none;border:none;mso-padding-alt:31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt;mso-border-shadow: yes"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif;">“Where in an action a Defendant has been served with a statement of claim and has filed appearance, the Plaintiff may on notice apply to the Court for judgment against the Defendant on the ground that the Defendant has no defence to a claim included in the Writ, or to a particular part of such a claim, or that the Defendant has no defence to such a claim or part of a claim, except as to the amount of any damages claimed.” <o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:.45pt;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: "Book Antiqua", serif;">A brief summary of the facts in this case is that the Plaintiff undertook a premium fixed deposit on the 24<sup>th </sup>May 2018 with the Defendant in the sum of GH¢336,182.76. This investment was to mature on 23<sup>rd </sup>August, 2018 at an interest of 25% per annum. A fixed deposit certificate No. IFL/FD/270/05/18 dated 24<sup>th </sup>May 2018 was issued by the Defendant to the Plaintiff. At the maturity of the said fixed deposit, the Defendant failed to pay the Plaintiff his investment. The Plaintiff’s efforts to get his investment having failed, the Plaintiff filed a Writ of Summons asking for the following reliefs: <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:.45pt;margin-bottom:0in; margin-left:1.0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;mso-pagination:none; border:none;mso-padding-alt:31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt;mso-border-shadow:yes"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif;"> “a) An order directed at Defendant to pay to Plaintiff forthwith the sum of GH¢357,136.62 being the sums due and payable to Plaintiff from Defendant as a result of Defendant having on 24<sup>th </sup>May, 2018 received from the Plaintiff the said sum of GH¢336,182.76 as fixed deposit investment with promises to pay the said sum of GH¢356,136.62 to Plaintiff on the maturity date of 23<sup>rd </sup>August, 2018 which sum Defendant has failed or refused to pay to Plaintiff. <o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:.45pt;margin-bottom:0in; margin-left:1.0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;mso-pagination:none; border:none;mso-padding-alt:31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt;mso-border-shadow:yes"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif;">b) Interest on the said sum of GH¢357,136.62 at the prevailing commercial rate of 25% per annum from 23<sup>rd </sup>August, 2018 to date of final payment and cost on full recovery basis including lawyer’s fees.” <o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:.45pt;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: "Book Antiqua", serif;">The core issue requiring my adjudication in this application is as to whether or not the Defendant should be allowed to defend the cause? <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:.45pt;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: "Book Antiqua", serif;">The Supreme Court in the case of <b><i>SANUNU v SALIFU [2009] SCGLR 586, </i></b>held that under Order 14 rule 1 of the CI. 47, a trial Judge “<b><i>must come to the conclusion that on the face of the claim there is no defence to the action. A defence set up need only show that there is a triable issue; and leave to defence ought to be given unless there is clearly no defence in law and no possibility of a real defence on the question of fact.</i></b><i>” </i><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: "Book Antiqua", serif;">Again, in the case of <b><i>SAM JONAH v DUODU-KUMI [2003-2004] SCGLR 50, </i></b>the Supreme Court, elaborating on the objective of Order 14 rule (1) of CI. 47, stated: <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:.45pt;margin-bottom:0in; margin-left:1.0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;mso-pagination:none; border:none;mso-padding-alt:31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt;mso-border-shadow:yes"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif;">“The objective of Order 14 is to facilitate the early conclusion of actions where it is clear from the pleadings that the Defendant therein has no cogent defence. It is intended to prevent a Plaintiff being delayed where there is no fairly arguable defence to be brought forward.” (See Halsbury’s Laws of England, Fourth Edition, 516). What we are, therefore, required to do in this appeal is to ascertain whether, on the totality of the pleadings and all matters before the High Court at the moment it delivered the summary judgment, the Respondent had, demonstrably any defence in law or on the available facts, such as would justify his being granted leave to defend the Appellant’s claim.” <o:p></o:p></span></i></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: "Book Antiqua", serif;">In the case before me, the statement of defence filed by the Defendant on the 19<sup>th </sup>October, 2018 does not disclose any defence at all. By paragraphs 4, 5, 6 and 7 of the statement of defence, the Defendant averred that: <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:.2pt;margin-bottom:0in; marg