INDEPTH NETWORK vs. DANIEL KOFI BAKU & NINE OTHERS [2019]DLHC6809

Date	2019-02-04
Suit No.	SUIT NO: GJ/826/2018
Citation No.	[2019]DLHC6809

HIS LORDSHIP JUSTICE KWEKU T. ACKAAH-BOAFO

MR. ANDREW APPAU OBENG FOR THE 5TH DEFENDANT TO COUNTERCLAIM - NANA AGYEI BAFFOUR AWUAH.

JUSTIN AMENUVOR FOR THE 1ST TO 7TH DEFENDANTS/ RESPONDENTS

[2019]DLHC6809
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													<main id="main" class="content" style="min-height: 60rem" >INDEPTH NETWORK<o:p></o:p>(PLAINTIFF)<o:p></o:p>vs.<o:p></o:p>DANIEL KOFI BAKU &amp;
NINE OTHERS<o:p></o:p>(DEFENDANTS)<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>[HIGH COURT (GENERAL JURISDICTION DIVISION, COURT 6),
ACCRA]<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">

SUIT
NO: GJ/826/2018 &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; &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: 4TH FEBRUARY, 2019<o:p></o:p>

</div>COUNSEL: <o:p></o:p>MR. ANDREW APPAU OBENG FOR
THE 5TH DEFENDANT TO COUNTERCLAIM - NANA AGYEI BAFFOUR AWUAH.<o:p></o:p><div style="mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
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JUSTIN
AMENUVOR FOR THE 1ST TO 7TH DEFENDANTS/ 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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HIS
LORDSHIP JUSTICE KWEKU T. ACKAAH-BOAFO<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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</div>i.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Introduction:<o:p></o:p>[1]&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The
facts of this case are free from complexity. The Plaintiff Indepth Network
issued out a Writ of Summons sealed at the registry of this Court against the Defendants
herein for certain judicial reliefs. Mr. Justin Amenuvor entered appearance for
the 1st to 7th Defendants and filed a Statement of Defence and Counterclaim
against certain Defendants including the 5th Defendant, Mr. Nana Agyei Baffour
Awuah who is the Solicitor who issued the writ of summons for the Plaintiffs. <o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>[2]&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The
5th Defendant/Applicant to the Counterclaim has brought the instant application
for an order to strike him out as a party to the action on the grounds that he
is not a necessary party pursuant to the inherent jurisdiction of the Court
and/or Order 4(5) of the High Court Civil Procedure Rules, 2004 (C.I.
47). &nbsp;The Applicant prays the
Court to strike him out as a party to the suit on the grounds that the suit (i) discloses no reasonable cause of
action against him (ii) it is
vexatious and an abuse of the Court’s process and (iii) misjoinder. In a nutshell, the 5th Defendant to the
Counterclaim prayer is to be non-suited.<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>ii.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The Case For and Against the
Application.<o:p></o:p>[3]&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; I
note that due to scheduling challenges of the Court it became impossible for
the Court to hear viva voce arguments
of Counsel after the application was filed and the Respondents also filed an
affidavit in opposition. The Court ordered both parties to file their legal
arguments by way of legal submissions. Both Counsel have complied with the
order.<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>[4]&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Counsel
for the Applicant in his legal submission filed on January 11, 2019 referred to
the 10 paragraph supporting affidavit of Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah filed on July
24, 2018 and submitted by referring to paragraph 7 of the affidavit in support
that the basis of the Respondent’s action against his client are captured in
paragraphs 21 and 22 of the Statement of Defence and Counterclaim. The said
paragraphs state as follows:<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>