THE REPUBLIC vs. THE HIGH COURT, COMMERCIAL DIVISION, ACCRA EX PARTE: JUDICIAL SECRETARY ASP NANA JUSTICE OPPONG DAVID K. AMETEFE [2020]DLSC9340

THE REPUBLIC vs. THE HIGH COURT, COMMERCIAL DIVISION, ACCRA EX PARTE: JUDICIAL S... [2020]DLSC9340

Date	2020-02-26
Suit No.	CIVIL APPEAL SUIT NO. J4/15/2019
Citation No.	[2020]DLSC9340

BAFFOE-BONNIE JSC (PRESIDING)

APPAU JSC

MARFUL-SAU JSC

DORDZIE (MRS.) JSC

KOTEY JSC

DAVID AMETEPE APPEARS IN PERSON FOR THE INTERESTED PARTY.

WILLIAM POBI CHIEF STATE ATTORNEY WITH NICHOLAS NBEAH FOR THE APPLICANTS.

[2020]DLSC9340
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													<main id="main" class="content" style="min-height: 60rem" >THE REPUBLIC<o:p></o:p>vs.<o:p></o:p>THE HIGH COURT, COMMERCIAL DIVISION,
ACCRA<o:p></o:p>EX PARTE: JUDICIAL SECRETARY ASP
NANA JUSTICE OPPONG<o:p></o:p>(APPLICANTS)<o:p></o:p>DAVID K. AMETEFE<o:p></o:p>(INTERESTED PARTY)<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>[SUPREME COURT,
ACCRA]<o:p></o:p><div style="mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
padding:0cm 0cm 1.0pt 0cm">

CIVIL APPEAL
SUIT NO. J4/15/2019&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; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &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:&nbsp; 26TH FEBRUARY, 2020<o:p></o:p>

</div>COUNSEL:<o:p></o:p>DAVID AMETEPE APPEARS IN
PERSON FOR THE INTERESTED PARTY.<o:p></o:p><div style="mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
padding:0cm 0cm 1.0pt 0cm">

WILLIAM POBI, CHIEF
STATE ATTORNEY WITH NICHOLAS NBEAH FOR THE APPLICANTS.<o:p></o:p>

</div>CORAM:
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;<o:p></o:p>BAFFOE-BONNIE JSC (PRESIDING), APPAU JSC,
MARFUL-SAU JSC, DORDZIE (MRS.) JSC, KOTEY JSC<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;
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<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="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>BAFFOE-BONNIE,
JSC:-&nbsp; <o:p></o:p>For a fuller appreciation of this ruling I will
set out in material detail the facts and series of events that have culminated
in this application.<o:p></o:p>The interested party herein, David Ametefe,
brought an action in tort against ‘ROSE BIO ATINGA’ and 5 other named persons
claiming among other reliefs, damages for wrongful arrest and damages for
assault and battery. This writ was issued on 27/1/2011. The trial which started
in 2012, for some unexplained reasons, travelled through to October 2016. On 26th
October,2016 when 2nd defendant, who was then in the box for
continuation of cross-examination, failed to appear, the trial judge ruled thus,<o:p></o:p>“The
defendants have continuously been absent to prosecute. I would expunge the
evidence of the 2nd defendant from the record and deem the evidence
of the defendants to have been closed and further direct the plaintiff to file
their written addresses on or before 11th day of November, 2016 with
the defendants reacting to same 21 days after being served.<o:p></o:p>Case
adjourned to 15th December, 2016 for judgment. Order as well as
hearing notice be served on the defendants for their necessary compliance with
costs of GHc1000.00 in favour of plaintiff.”<o:p></o:p>Feeling aggrieved, the Applicants herein, brought
an application to vacate the order made on 26/10/2016 but same was dismissed on
07/02/ 2017. <o:p></o:p>The applicants herein, filed an interlocutory
appeal against this decision, further holding up the trial. This application
for stay of proceedings was refused and both parties filed their respective
addresses, and a day for judgment was fixed. On the scheduled day for the
delivery of judgment, the trial judge intimated to the court that his attention
had been drawn to an order signed by the Chief Justice, transferring the entire
case to His Lordship Justice Kwaku Ackaah Boafo, so he was precluded from
delivering his judgment and the matter was adjourned sine die. When the Interested
Party herein, finally procured a copy of the transfer order he felt suspicious
and therefore filed an application before the High Court praying for an order
of Certiorari to bring the Chief Justices Order of Transfer to be quashed on a
number of grounds. &nbsp;<o:p></o:p>His suspicions were based on the fact that<o:p></o:p>1.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
The
transfer order quoted a wrong title describing the parties as<o:p></o:p>Daniel Ametepe vrs The IGP and ors, instead of
DAVID AMETEFE v ROSE BIO-ATINGA and 5 ors<o:p></o:p>2.