DAVID AKWETER NAKOTEY, EDWARD NUERTEY TETTEH vs TEYE JOSEPH & ORS [2022]DLCA16053

Date	2022-04-12
Suit No.	CONSOLIDATED CIVIL APPEA NO: H1/29/2021
Citation No.	[2022]DLCA16053

SOWAH J. A. (PRESIDING)

OPPONG J. A.

MENSAH-HOMIAH J. A.

OSMAN GYAN

JONATHAN ALUA

[2022]DLCA16053
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													<main id="main" class="content" style="min-height: 60rem" >&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; DAVID AKWETER NAKOTEY, EDWARD NUERTEY
TETTEH<o:p></o:p>(PLAINTIFFS/ APPELLANTS)<o:p></o:p>vs.<o:p></o:p>TEYE
JOSEPH &amp; ORS<o:p></o:p>(DEFENDANTS/
RESPONDENTS)<o:p></o:p>[COURT OF APPEAL, KOFORIDUA]<o:p></o:p>&nbsp;<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;">

CONSOLIDATED CIVIL APPEA NO: H1/29/2021&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&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: 12TH &nbsp;APRIL 2022<o:p></o:p>

</div>CORAM<o:p></o:p>SOWAH
J. A. (PRESIDING), OPPONG J. A., MENSAH-HOMIAH J. A.<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">JUDGEMENT<o:p></o:p>

</div>MENSAH-HOMIAH,
JA:<o:p></o:p>INTRODUCTION<o:p></o:p>We have before us two appeals filed against a ruling of the Circuit
Court, Odumase-Krobo, dated 3rd August, 2018. The said ruling was in
respect of two motions filed pursuant to Order 23 rule 6 (1) of the High
Court ( Civil Procedure) Rules 2004, C.I. 47 in two
separate suits which were pending before that court, titled: (i) David Akwetey
Nakotey (suing as head of Ami-Narh Family) &amp; Edward Tetteh Nuertey v. Teye
Joseph, Tetteh &amp; Pastor Kwesi Emmanuel Suit No. C1/05/2011
(the 1st suit) and (ii) Teye Joseph &amp; Teye Mathew Tetteh
v. David Akweter Nakotey &amp; Edward Tetteh Nuertey Suit No, A1/08/2017
(the 2nd suit).&nbsp; <o:p></o:p>It is observed that even though no formal order of consolidation had
been made pursuant to Order 31 rule 2 of C.I. 47, the trial court proceeded to
deliver one ruling as if the two suits had been consolidated. Since the parties
to the two appeals, the subject matter and core issues for our consideration
are virtually the same, these appeals would be, and are hereby consolidated.<o:p></o:p>&nbsp;THE ANTECEDENTS<o:p></o:p>On 2nd August 2010, David Akweter Nakotey who describes
himself as the head of the Ami-Narh Family of Adjikpo- Adawuranya commenced the
1st suit for and on behalf of the said family against the defendants
therein at the Circuit Court, Odumase-Krobo. Pursuant to an order of the court,
Edward Nuertey Tetteh was joined as the 2nd Plaintiff and an amended
Writ of Summons was filed on 11th December, 2013. (See ROA part 1 page
49). <o:p></o:p>The reliefs sought in the 1st suit included a
declaration of title to Plaintiffs’ family land situate at Adjikpo- Adawuranya,
Somanya; declaration that the purported grant of Plaintiffs’ family land by 1st
and 2nd Defendants to 3rd defendant is void; recovery of
possession and damages for trespass. In their statement of <o:p></o:p>defence, 1st and 2nd Defendants challenged
the capacity of Plaintiffs since they are not the head of the Ami-Narh family. Notwithstanding
the challenge to Plaintiffs’ capacity in the 1st suit, Defendants therein
counterclaimed for declaration of title to the same piece of land, among other
reliefs. Plaintiffs also filed their reply and defence to Counterclaim.<o:p></o:p>Application for directions was taken on 26th November,
2011 (ROA part 1 page 17) and the parties were consequently ordered to file
their respective witness statements together with potential exhibits which was
complied with after a series of amendments had been filed. &nbsp;<o:p></o:p>The Defendants in the 1st suit filed an amended
statement of defence on 12th August, 2016 (ROA part 1 page 118).&nbsp; On the same day, they commenced the 2nd
suit against the Plaintiffs in the 1st suit, for similar reliefs as
in their counterclaim to the 1st suit. Upon service, Defendants in
the 2nd suit filed “a motion for an order to strike out writ
of summons for want of capacity”, which the court ordered to be tried
as a preliminary issue.<o:p></o:p></sp</main>