BISMARK OBENG SARPENING vs. ADAMU MUSAH & 2 OTHERS [2020]DLHC10402

Date	2020-03-05
Suit No.	Suit No.LD/0888/2018
Citation No.	[2020]DLHC10402

HER LADYSHIP JUSTICE ELLEN VIVIAN AMOAH

[2020]DLHC10402
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													<main id="main" class="content" style="min-height: 60rem" >BISMARK OBENG SARPENING<o:p></o:p>vs.<o:p></o:p>ADAMU MUSAH &amp; 2 OTHERS<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;border:none;mso-border-bottom-alt:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
padding:0cm;mso-padding-alt:0cm 0cm 1.0pt 0cm">Suit No.LD/0888/2018&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; DATE:
5TH MARCH 2020<o:p></o:p>

</div>CORAM:<o:p></o:p>HER
LADYSHIP JUSTICE ELLEN VIVIAN AMOAH<o:p></o:p><div style="border-top-width: 1.5pt; border-top-color: windowtext; border-left: none; border-bottom-width: 1.5pt; border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-right: none; padding: 1pt 0cm;">

<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;
text-align:center;border:none;mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
mso-border-bottom-alt:solid windowtext 1.5pt;padding:0cm;mso-padding-alt:1.0pt 0cm 1.0pt 0cm">RULING<o:p></o:p>

</div>&nbsp;(1)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
This
is an application for an order for
interlocutory injunction to restrain the Plaintiffs, their servants and assigns
from interfering or dealing with the land the subject matter of the suit pending
final determination of this suit.<o:p></o:p>The
locus classicus of American Cyananamid Co. V Ethicon LTD. [1975] 1 All ER 504
makes it clear that the&nbsp;
legal and factual factors govern for the grant of an application for an
interlocutory or interim injunction per the above mentioned case are succinctly
captured as follows;<o:p></o:p><ol style="margin-top:0cm" start="1" type="1">
 <li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2">There
 must be a serious question of fact or law raised by the pleadings for
 trial<o:p></o:p></li>
 <li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2">Damages
 should not be an adequate compensation for the applicant should the
 application be refused<o:p></o:p></li>
 <li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2">The
 balance of convenience test should be in favour of the applicant<o:p></o:p></li>
 <li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2">The
 absence of any special circumstances that may affect the grant of the
 application<o:p></o:p></li>
</ol>&nbsp;(2)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
The substantive reliefs on which this
application was founded have been so inelegantly settled that it is difficult
to appreciate the Plaintiff/Applicant’s cause of action except for relief (a)
in which a declaration is sought with respect to the claim of ownership of land
stretching from La, through Cantonments, Ridge, Nima to Roman Ridge otherwise
known as Akanets lands.&nbsp; The propriety of
the reliefs will for now be reserved for the substantive trial or when the
court’s jurisdiction is properly invoked to interrogate them.<o:p></o:p>&nbsp;(3)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
The Defendant/Respondent has neither assisted
the court nor put up any procedural challenge to these inadequacies
aforesaid.&nbsp; In fact, counsel for the
Defendant has been tardy in approach and even filed a statement of case on
19/1/2016 to contest the application after the Plaintiff/Applicant’s statement
of case had been adopted for ruling on 18/1/2016. Cumulatively therefore I have
not had any meaningful assistance from both counsel in this application.<o:p></o:p>&nbsp;(4)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
At this stage of the proceedings therefore, I
am unable to establish the veracity of the claims of either party to this
application given the shortfalls in the approach of both counsel in the
proceedings.&nbsp; In the circumstances, I
find myself able to determine the application by exercising my discretion as
follows:&nbsp; Both parties to the suit are
hereby ordered to maintain the status quo pending the final determination of
this suit or until further order.&nbsp; In
other words, the Defendant/Respondent whether by himself, agents, servants, or
by whomsoever is restrained from evicting or taking possession of the disputed
property while the Plaintiff/Applicant whether by the principal elder of his
family agents or howsoever described are restrained from altering the character
of the property or creating any third party interest therein.<o:p></o:p>&nbsp;(5)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;