GEORGE ODAMTTEN, DORINDA OSEI, JULIET OWUSU, JUDY OWUSU AND TONY OWUSU vs. RAPHAEL WUTA-OFEI AND MOHAMMED WOLLEY [2018]DLSC4132

GEORGE ODAMTTEN, DORINDA OSEI, JULIET OWUSU, JUDY OWUSU AND TONY OWUSU vs. RAPHA... [2018]DLSC4132

Date	2018-12-12
Suit No.	CIVIL APPEAL NO. J4/20/2016
Citation No.	[2018]DLSC4132

ADINYIRA (MRS) JSC (PRESIDING)

AKOTO-BAMFO (MRS) JSC

BENIN JSC

APPAU JSC

PWAMANG JSC

MARTIN KPEBU WITH HIM MERCY DE-GRAFT SAVAGEE FOR THE 1ST PLAINTIFFS /APPELLANTS /APPELLANTS.

ADDO-ATUAH WITH HIM OSUMAN MOHADIN FOR THE 2ND DEFENDANT/ RESPONDENT/RESPONDENT.

[2018]DLSC4132
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													<main id="main" class="content" style="min-height: 60rem" >GEORGE ODAMTTEN, DORINDA
OSEI, JULIET OWUSU, JUDY OWUSU AND TONY OWUSU<o:p></o:p>vs.<o:p></o:p>RAPHAEL WUTA-OFEI AND MOHAMMED WOLLEY<o:p></o:p>&nbsp;[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. J4/20/2016 &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;
DATE: 12TH DECEMBER, 2018<o:p></o:p>

</div>COUNSEL:&nbsp;&nbsp; <o:p></o:p>MARTIN KPEBU WITH HIM
MERCY DE-GRAFT SAVAGEE FOR THE 1ST PLAINTIFFS /APPELLANTS
/APPELLANTS.<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">

ADDO-ATUAH
WITH HIM OSUMAN MOHADIN FOR THE 2ND DEFENDANT/ RESPONDENT/RESPONDENT.<o:p></o:p>

</div>CORAM: <o:p></o:p>ADINYIRA
(MRS) JSC (PRESIDING), AKOTO-BAMFO (MRS) JSC, BENIN JSC, APPAU JSC, AND PWAMANG
JSC<o:p></o:p><div style="mso-element:para-border-div;border-top:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
border-left:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.5pt;border-right:none;
padding:1.0pt 0in 1.0pt 0in">

<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;border:none;
mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext 1.5pt;mso-border-bottom-alt:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
padding:0in;mso-padding-alt:1.0pt 0in 1.0pt 0in">JUDGMENT<o:p></o:p>

</div>ADINYIRA (MRS), JSC:-<o:p></o:p>This appeal is in respect of the
Plaintiffs/Appellants/Appellants [Appellants] in original suit no. AL 105/2007
which was consolidated with suit no P 96/2007 and in respect of the same
property, Essie Lodge/Cedar House otherwise known as House No. F 889/2
Cantonments Road, Accra, or Koala Shopping Centre. The property was the self
acquired property of one Robert Wuta- Ofei who died intestate in 1970. He was
survived by his wife Barbara Wuta Ofei and four children, Roberta, Vida, Percy
and the 1st Respondent. The Plaintiffs in both suits at the High
Court are the grandchildren of Robert and Barbara Wuta Ofei claiming the
property as beneficiaries of the estate of their mother Roberta Wuta- Ofei. <o:p></o:p>The reliefs sought in both cases are identical, that is, the setting
aside of the sale of the said property by the 1st Respondent to the
2nd Respondent, who was the sitting tenant for decades, on the basis
that they were not consulted before the sale as they also had an interest in
same, and an order of perpetual injunction retraining the Respondents from
dealing with the property.<o:p></o:p>The 1st Respondent
claimed the right to sell the property as the head of family, administrator of
the estate and the only surviving child of the parents. <o:p></o:p>The Court of Appeal
affirmed the decision of the High Court that upon the death intestate of Wuta–Ofei,
a Ga from Osu, succession to his self acquired property became family property
and by Osu customary law which is patrilineal it is his children who inherited
him. The Court held further that all the four children of Wuta Ofei inherited
the property, but the female children had only life interest in the estate. The
Court further held that the 1st Respondent being the head of family
is clothed with authority to deal with the property.<o:p></o:p>&nbsp;At the trial the Appellants elected not to
lead evidence and they relied on the evidence of Robert Odamtten, the Plaintiff
in suit no P96/2007 and we would therefore, where appropriate, refer to his
evidence, in determining the appeal.<o:p></o:p>The grounds of appeal filed are:<o:p></o:p>1.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; That the
judgment is against the weight of evidence.<o:p></o:p>2.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; That the
Court of Appeal erred in holding that despite the interstate Succession Law
(PNDCL 111) by the customary law of Gas (Osu), female children of a deceased
original owner of property, who inherit the property cannot pass on their
interest to their children (grand children of the deceased) thus the property
reverts to the family of the deceased original owner.<o:p></o:p>3.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Additional
ground of Appeal may be filed upon receipt of a certified true copy of the
proceedings.<o:p></o:p>No additional ground of appeal was however filed.<o:p></o:p>&nbsp;Ground 1</main>