DN NETWORK LIMITED (PLAINTIFF) vs. MILLICOM GHANA LIMITED (DEFENDANT) [2019]DLHC7193

Date	2019-05-17
Suit No.	SUIT NO. BDC/18/2014
Citation No.	[2019]DLHC7193

HIS LORDSHIP GEORGE K. KOOMSON (J).

SEAN POKU FOR PLAINTIFF/JUDGMENT/CREDITOR/ RESPONDENT

AUGUSTINE KIDISILFOR DEFENDANT/JUDGMENT/DEBTOR/APPLICANT

[2019]DLHC7193
																																						<div class="restriction-wrapper">
														<div class="container-lg">
															<div class="row">
																<div class="col-md-12 restricted-content">
																	<div class="restricted-content-img-wrapper">
																		<div class="lock-icon bounce-7">
																			<img class=""
																				src="https://www.dennislawgh.com/dl-assets/dl-images/lock-content.png"
																				alt="Subscription based content">
																		</div>
																	</div>
																	 
																		<a href="https://www.dennislawgh.com/login"
																		class="btn btn-primary btn-lg"
																		style="font-family: 'open sans'; text-transform: capitalize; border-radius: 8px"> 
																		Login to Read Full Case </a>
																	 
																	
																</div>
															</div>
														</div>
													</div>
													<main id="main" class="content" style="min-height: 60rem" >DN NETWORK
LIMITED<o:p></o:p>(PLAINTIFF)<o:p></o:p>vs.<o:p></o:p>MILLICOM
GHANA LIMITED<o:p></o:p>(DEFENDANT)<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>[HIGH COURT (COMMERCIAL
DIVISION), 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. BDC/18/2014&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: 17TH MAY, 2019<o:p></o:p>

</div>COUNSEL: <o:p></o:p>SEAN
POKU FOR PLAINTIFF/JUDGMENT/CREDITOR/ RESPONDENT<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">

AUGUSTINE
KIDISILFOR DEFENDANT/JUDGMENT/DEBTOR/APPLICANT<o:p></o:p>

</div>CORAM:<o:p></o:p>HIS
LORDSHIP GEORGE K. KOOMSON (J).<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="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;
text-align:center;line-height:115%;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">RULING<o:p></o:p>

</div>This is an application for stay of
proceedings filed by the Defendant/Judgment/Debtor/ Applicant to stay the
garnishee proceedings pending the determination of appeal filed by the
Defendant.<o:p></o:p>I have read the application and the affidavits
filed by the parties. I have also given consideration to the oral submissions made
by both Counsel. Regard has been given to the general principles governing applications
of such nature.<o:p></o:p>It is noted that in considering
applications of this nature the Court should be mindful of special exceptional
circumstances, which should be established by the Applicant; see the case of GARRETT v GARRETT [1991] 2 GLR 366.<o:p></o:p>In the instant case, the Court of
Appeal in its order varying the stay of execution made by this Court, ordered
the Plaintiff/Judgment/Creditor to file an undertaking.&nbsp; Having filed the said undertaking at the
Court of Appeal, I find that no special circumstances has been established by
the Defendant/Judgment/Debtor/Applicant to justify an order staying the
proceedings.<o:p></o:p>Assuming for a moment that, the
Defendant/Judgment/Debtor/Applicant had complied with the order of the Court of
Appeal to pay the GH¢5,000,000.00 within the 14 days, I do not think the
Defendant’s interest shall be jeopardised by the garnishee proceedings as, by
their undertaking filed at the Court of Appeal, the Plaintiff is enjoined to
refund all sums of money that has been paid to it by the Defendant in the event
the Defendant’s appeal is successful. The interest of the
Defendant/Judgment/Debtor/Applicant, in my view has already been taken care of
by the said undertaking made by the Plaintiff.<o:p></o:p>Regarding the success of the appeal, I
must say that though I cannot purport to know the mind of the Appellate Court,
I have however examined the grounds of appeal and I am of the opinion that none
has any merit, especially where the money paid by the Defendant/Judgment/Debtor
was not done within the 14 days specified by the Appellate Court thereby
entitling the Plaintiff to go into execution for the entire judgment debt and
that the Defendant/Judgment/Debtor could not substantiate its negotiated
settlement with Counsel for the Plaintiff with any evidence of compromise or
settlement.<o:p></o:p>It is further observed that though a
Court has an inherent jurisdiction to stay proceedings pending the
determination of an appeal, the said jurisdiction was discretionary.&nbsp; As has been stated earlier, the discretion to
stay proceedings would be exercised where the Applicant has established special
exceptional circumstances warranting it.&nbsp;
The Court would therefore not stay proceedings in the hope that the
appeal might succeed; see BRUTUW v
AFERIBA &amp; ANOR [1979] GLR 566.<o:p></o:p>For the foregoing reasons, I refuse the
application. Same is accordingly dismissed.&nbsp;
The garnishee proceedings is hereby adjourned to 29th May,
2019.&nbsp; Let the Plaintiff/Judgment/ Creditor
serve the garnishee banks with hearing notice.<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>&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;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <o:p></o:p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&n</main>