IBRAHIM BABA ALHASSAN VS BABA IDDRISU SOROGHO
June 7, 2019
HIGH COURT
GHANA
CORAM
- HER LADYSHIP JUSTICE BARBARA TETTEH-CHARWAY (MRS)
Areas of Law
- Property and Real Estate Law
- Evidence Law
June 7, 2019
HIGH COURT
GHANA
CORAM
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The facts of this case are that the Plaintiff, Ibrahim Baba Alhassan, is a business man resident in Accra while the Defendant, Baba Iddrisu or Baba Iddrisu Seidu Sorogho is the Managing Director of Sorogho Ltd. The Plaintiff’s case is that, by an indenture dated 15th March 2016, he acquired the land in dispute from a Taiwanese businessman called Huang Ching-Tiem and is in the process of registering his title in the said land at the Land Title Registration Division of the Lands Commission.
He claims that his vendor, Huang Ching-Tiem, acquired his interest in the land in dispute from Sabah Estates Development Ltd in 1996 while Sabah Estates Development Limited also acquired its interest in the land in dispute from Nii Ashikwei Oshiapem, the Dzasetse of Lenshie Quarter of Teshie.
The Plaintiff claims further that before acquiring the land in dispute, he conducted an official search at the Lands Commission and was satisfied, from its outcome, that his vendor was a registered proprietor of the land in dispute.
He further claims that there were dwarf footings on the land in dispute when he acquired it for the purpose of constructing a dwelling house.
The Plaintiff states that he took possession of the land without obstruction from any quarters and enjoyed quiet possession of same until the Defendant, in recent times, entered the land forcefully and began to develop it in spite of Plaintiff’s resistance to this intrusion.
Plaintiff maintains that the Defendant will not stop developing the land in dispute if the Court does not intervene.
He is therefore claiming, per the endorsement on his writ of summons, the following reliefs; a) Declaration of title to all that piece or parcel of land situate, lying and being at West Teshie, Accra in the LEKMA Municipality in the Greater Accra Region of the Republic of Ghana and containing an approximate area of 0. 17 Acre or 0. 07 Hectare more or less and bounded on the North-West by proposed road measuring 69. 1 feet more or less on the South-East by Assignor’s land measuring 89. 4 feet more or less on the South-West by Assignor’s land measuring 87. 6 feet more or less on the North-West by Assignor’s land measuring 99. 6 feet more or less.
b) An Order of Recovery of possession of the said land; c) An Order of Perpetual Injunction restraining the Defendant, his agents, assigns and all those who claim through him from trespassing unto the said land; and d) Damages for trespass.
The Defendant, on the other hand, filed a
AI Generated Summary
This High Court land title and trespass dispute between Ibrahim Baba Alhassan and Baba Iddrisu (Managing Director of Sorogho Ltd) arose over a Teshie parcel that both traced to Sabah Estates Development Ltd. Alhassan purchased the land via a 15 March 2016 indenture from Huang Ching‑Tiem and obtained a Land Title Certificate incorporating a deed of assignment. Sorogho Ltd had earlier acquired the same parcel by a 22 August 2007 deed of assignment, placed a caretaker, and constructed foundations, rooms, and a fence wall, with structures later demolished in 2015. Lands Commission and Land Title Registration Division correspondences revealed multiple survey requests and advised Sorogho that registration was on hold pending final judgment. The Court held that registration alone does not confer title; because Sorogho’s grant preceded Huang’s, nemo dat barred Huang from acquiring or passing valid title, rendering Alhassan’s certificate void. The Court canceled the certificate, dismissed Alhassan’s claims, entered judgment for the Defendant’s counterclaim, and awarded damages and costs.