JONATHAN ARYEE & ANOR. vs. EMMANUEL NII OKAI LARYEA [2019]DLHC10287

Date	2019-11-05
Suit No.	SUIT NO. LD/0883/2019
Citation No.	[2019]DLHC10287

HER LADYSHIP JUSTICE ANANDA J. AIKINS (MRS).

DEFENDANT REPRESENTED BY ALFRED LAMPTEY

MR. JOSEPH YAMOAH HOLDING BRIEF FOR DR. YEBOAH AMOA

COUNSEL FOR THE DEFENDANT PRESENT

[2019]DLHC10287
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													<main id="main" class="content" style="min-height: 60rem" >JONATHAN ARYEE &amp; ANOR.<o:p></o:p>(PLAINTIFFS)<o:p></o:p>vs.<o:p></o:p>EMMANUEL
NII OKAI LARYEA<o:p></o:p>(DEFENDANT)<o:p></o:p>[HIGH COURT, ACCRA]<o:p></o:p><div style="border-top: none; border-right: none; border-left: none; border-image: initial; border-bottom-width: 1.5pt; border-bottom-color: windowtext; padding: 0cm 0cm 1pt;">

<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;
text-align:center;line-height:115%;border:none;mso-border-bottom-alt:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
padding:0cm;mso-padding-alt:0cm 0cm 1.0pt 0cm">SUIT NO. LD/0883/2019&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: 5TH
NOVEMBER, 2019<o:p></o:p>

</div>COUNSEL:<o:p></o:p>DEFENDANT
REPRESENTED BY ALFRED LAMPTEY<o:p></o:p><div style="border-top: none; border-right: none; border-left: none; border-image: initial; border-bottom-width: 1.5pt; border-bottom-color: windowtext; padding: 0cm;">

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:
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padding:0cm;mso-padding-alt:0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm">MR.
JOSEPH YAMOAH HOLDING BRIEF FOR DR. YEBOAH AMOA, COUNSEL FOR THE DEFENDANT
PRESENT<o:p></o:p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:
justify;line-height:115%;border:none;mso-border-bottom-alt:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
padding:0cm;mso-padding-alt:0cm 0cm 1.0pt 0cm">HER LADYSHIP JUSTICE ANANDA J. AIKINS
(MRS).<o:p></o:p>

</div>&nbsp;MOTION
ON NOTICE FOR AN ORDER TO SET ASIDE THE WRIT OF SUMMONS<o:p></o:p><div style="border-top: none; border-right: none; border-left: none; border-image: initial; border-bottom-width: 1.5pt; border-bottom-color: windowtext; padding: 0cm 0cm 1pt;">

RULING<o:p></o:p>

</div>&nbsp;The defendant/applicant has requested
this Court to set aside the plaintiffs’ writ of summons and statement of claim
on the ground that the plaintiffs lack capacity to institute the substantive
matter for and on behalf of themselves and the principal elders or members of
the Nii Kwaku Fifii We. The application is brought under Order 9 rules (7)
&amp; (8) of C.I. 47.<o:p></o:p>The plaintiffs/respondents are opposed
to the instant application.&nbsp; In an
affidavit in opposition to the instant application, the plaintiffs describe the
present application as incompetent and not sanctioned by the rules of Court.
They further state in paragraph 9 of their affidavit in opposition as follows: -<o:p></o:p>“9. I am further advised and verily
believe same to be true that the settled procedure is for the defendant to file
a statement of defence and challenge the capacity of the plaintiffs therein
whereupon the honourable Court would be seized with the opportunity to
determine same upon adduction of evidence by the parties without going into the
merits of the case. That issue of capacity is not determined by affidavit
evidence”<o:p></o:p>This Court has considered the
affidavits of both parties and the submissions of learned counsel for the
defendant/applicant and the Court is of the opinion that the present
application should not be granted as same is not sanctioned by the rules of
Court. The proper procedure is for the defendant to file his statement of
defence and raise the issue of the plaintiffs’ lack of capacity in it. This
will enable the Court deal with same before the substantive matter is
determined or considered on its merits.<o:p></o:p>In the light of the foregoing the
present application to set aside the writ and statement of claim will not be
granted. Cost of GH₵1,000.00
is awarded against the defendant/applicant. Defendant is ordered to file his
statement of defence for the matter to take its normal course.<o:p></o:p>&nbsp;&nbsp;(SGD)<o:p></o:p>JUSTICE
ANANDA J. AIKINS (MRS.)<o:p></o:p>JUSTICE
OF THE HIGH COURT<o:p></o:p>&nbsp;