MOVINGUI INVESTMENT LTD vs. ADJETEY MENSAH AND JOSEPH AMARQUAYE [2019]DLHC9128

Date	2019-05-14
Suit No.	SUIT NO. LD/0870/16
Citation No.	[2019]DLHC9128

HER LADYSHIP JUSTICE BARBARA TETTEH-CHARWAY (MRS)

RICHARD AKPOKAVIE FOR PLAINTIFF

RICHMOND NUMBO SAAKA FOR DEFENDANTS

[2019]DLHC9128
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													<main id="main" class="content" style="min-height: 60rem" >MOVINGUI INVESTMENT LTD<o:p></o:p>(PLAINTIFF)<o:p></o:p>vs.<o:p></o:p>ADJETEY MENSAH AND JOSEPH
AMARQUAYE<o:p></o:p>(DEFENDANTS)<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>[HIGH COURT (LAND DIVISION), ACCRA]<o:p></o:p><div style="mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
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SUIT
NO. LD/0870/16&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: 14TH MAY,
2019<o:p></o:p>

</div>COUNSEL:<o:p></o:p>RICHARD AKPOKAVIE FOR
PLAINTIFF&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><div style="mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
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RICHMOND
NUMBO SAAKA FOR DEFENDANTS&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>

</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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</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><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>Before me is an application for stay of
execution of the judgment of this Court dated 22nd November 2018 and
an order to set aside the said judgment. <o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>The Applicants’ case, as can be gleaned
from the affidavits filed in support of the instant application, is that their Counsel
failed to communicate the Court’s orders regarding filing of witness statements
and notification of a trial date to them. As a result, they failed to
participate in the trial which ended in the delivery of judgment against them;
a situation which they consider unjust.<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>In the affidavit in opposition filed by
respondent’s Counsel it was argued that the Applicants were unjustly blaming
their Counsel for their failure to follow the progress of the case. It was
further argued that the Applicants had continued to construct a building on the
land in dispute which they had rented out and were now seeking to reverse the
gains made by the plaintiff/ Respondent.<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>Counsel for the Applicants, in his oral
submission, relied on the cases of Nsiah v Osei (1975) 1 GLR 257,
Takoradi
Timbers Ltd (1982 -83) GLR 1140 and Order 36 Rule (2) among others.
In the former case, the Court had dealt with an application to set aside
judgment where a judge had proceeded to hear a matter although the party was
present and had indicated his unpreparedness to proceed in the absence of his Counsel.
In the latter case, the question the Court dealt with was whether it was proper
to have proceeded with trial when Counsel for a party had withdrawn his
representation without informing his client of his decision. <o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>In the instant case however, the Defendants’
Counsel who was still on record as representing them, applied for an extension
of time to file Defendants’ witness statement to which the Court obliged but he
failed to do so. He was also served with notification of the trial date but
failed to show up with his clients on the said date. <o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>Order 36 Rule (2) provides that; <o:p></o:p>2 (1)
A judge may set aside or vary, on such terms as are just, a judgment obtained &nbsp;against a party who fails to attend at the
trial<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>