JUDGMENT DELIVERED THE 3rd DAY OF MARCH, 2009.

 

JUDGMENT

 

TEJAN-JALLOH, C.J. This is an appeal from a judgment of Sierra Leone Court of Appeal

delivered on 5th day of April 2000 restoring  the  judgment  in default  of  Appearance  of  Hon Mr. Justice L.B.O Nylander dated 7th  June, 1990 which had earlier been set  aside  by an  order of the same Judge dated the 22nd day of April, 1991.

 

This appeal turns on issues of non-compliance with the Rules relating to service of tile originating process of litigation, meaning of liquidated and unliquidated damages, award of damages and costs in Foreign Currency; rate of interest to be awarded in Foreign Currency.

The grounds of appeal are:-

 

 

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(i) The Court of Appeal failed to consider the Cross Appeal and gave no , ca - _

for dismissing the Cross Appeal in the light of the evidence before it, to wit

 

 

(a) The affidavit of Edward Fynn sworn to on the 5th day of June 1990  and  the 28th day of June 1990; and the affidavit  of  Ade  Renner-Thomas sworn to on the 28th day of June 1990.

 

(b) The indorsement at the back of the Writ of Summons herein maue by the same Edward Fynn.

 

(c) The oral testimony given by the same Edward Fynn.

 

 

(d) The Oral testimony of Edward Kamanda Bongay (the Under-Sheriff) which contradicted that of Edward Fynn.

 

Thereby wrongly holding "I have no reason to disbelieve. the totality of his evidence" referring to the evidence of Edward Fynn, the Court Bailiff, who served the Writ of Summons.

 

(ii) Further and in the alternative, if it held that the Court of Appeal considered the Cross Appeal the Court was wrong to uphold the learned Trial  Judges· ruling  that the service of the Writ of Summons  was  valid even  though  the said service  failed to comply w·1th the provisions of Order 9 Rule 12 of the Supreme Court Rules of England 1960.

 

(iii) The Court of Appeal erred in law when it held inter alias as follows

 

 

''There is no contention that the action before me is Admiralty Action in rem which arose out of the jurisdiction of  the  High  Court.  Our  High Court Rules are silent on the Rules governing any such action We therefore need to know which of the Rules of Court would apply

The Respondents are urging me to hold that since there are no specific rules governing Admiralty Action in Rem, the general orders applying else where in our Rules would apply to such action.

 

' '

I must here state that I have noticed a conspicuous fallacv in their argument with regards to the rules to be applied to the application Learned Counsel Mrs. Lisk had this to say, "since there are no specific rule governing admiralty action in rem the general orders applying else where in our Rules would apply to such actions". That cannot be true. when our rules are silent we have a legal obligation to go to  the English Rules of Court of England for the year 1961. By Order 13 of the Supreme Court Rules of England 1961 under which in an appropriate action a Plaintiff (sic) final judgment against a Defendant for liquidated demand where the Defendant has failed to enter an appearance after the time fixed does not apply to an Admiralty  action m rem....

 

In admiralty action in rem, judgment for any defendant can only be obtained by motion".

 

In that it failed to have regard to and/or apply the provision of Order 10  Rules  5 of the High Court Rules which is in the following terms -

 

"Where  Writ  is  indorsed  with  claim  for  pecuniary  damages   only or for  the  detention  of  goods  with  or  without  a  claim  for pecuniary  damages  and  the  defendant  fails  to  appear   the Plaintiff may enter interlocutory judgment and a  Writ  of  inquiry shall issue to assess the value of the  goods  and  the  damages  or the damages disclosed by the indorsement on  the  Writ  of Summons".

 

The High Court Rules are not silent regarding rules relating to procedure in admiralty action in rem. Most of these rules are general provisions applicable to all actions including Admiralty Actions in Rem.

 

In particular the provisions of the afore-mentioned rule, apply to all actions including an Admiralty Action .in rem, which was the instant case. It was therefore not

 

necessary to resort to Order 52 Rule 3 of the High Court Rules thereby invoking the

Rules of the Supreme Court of England 1960.

 

 

(iv) The Court of Appeal erred in law when it held inter alias as follows -

 

 

"To say, as the learned Judge wrote in his ruling that the Plaintiff ought to have entered an inter locutory Judgment and have damages assessed by the Court is wrong and without any foundation in law"

 

In that it failed to have regard to read/or apply the provision of Order 1O Rule 5 of the High Court Rules.

 

(v) The Court of Appeal erred in law restoring the decision of the learned Trial Judge when he awarded damages to the Plaintiff in United States Dollars, when the evidence disclosed that the loss suffered by the Plaintiff/Respondent was in Leones The Court had no jurisdiction to award damages in Foreign Currency to the Plaintiff/Respondent.

 

(vi) The Court of Appeal erred in law in restoring the decision of the learned Trial Judge when he awarded "interest" till payment. Such award been in excess of the jurisdiction of the Court having regard to the provisions of section 4 of the Law Reform. (Miscellaneous provisions) Act Cap 19 of the Law of Sierra Leone 1960.

 

(vii) The Court of Appeal erred in law in restoring the decision of the learned Trial Judge upon motion for judgment in that the latter awarded interest upon a Foreign Currency judgment (United States Dollars) without the Plaintiff/Respondents leading any expert evidence to prove what was the rate of interest in that currency

 

(viii) The Court of Appeal erred in law in restoring the decision of the learned Trial Judge when he awarded interest at the rate of 15 per centum per annum which is higher than the interest rate of 12 per centum per annum indorsed on the Writ of Summons without making any amendments to the statement of claim.

 

 

(ix) The Court of Appeal erred in law in restoring the decision of the learned Trial Judge when he awarded cost of the action to the Plaintiff/Respondent in United States Dollars (USD 37,000/00) for costs incurred by the Plaintiff/Respondent in

Sierra Leone there being no legal basis for the award of costs for work done in Sierra Leone.

 

(x) On the question of the service of the Writ one Edward Fynn a Court Bailiff was called to give evidence before the learned Trial Judge as to the participation in the service, he was examined before the Court and in the end of it all, the learned Trial Judge said:-

 

"I have no reason to disbelieve the  totality  of  his  evidence.  I have to accept the learned Trial Judges  conclusion  on  the point, he was in a good position to see the witness, evaluate  his  evidence and watch his demeanor as far as  the  service  of  the Writ is concerned the Cross Appeal therefore fails''

 

The Court of Appeal misdirected itself when it dismissed the Cross Appeal and upheld the learned Trial Judge's decision that the service of the Writ of Summons was valid without a proper consideration and evaluation of the evidence documentary  as well as o:al. relating to the service of the Writ.

 

The appellant in their Cross Appeal substantially relied upon the  Judgment  of  the  learned Trial  Judge  dated 7th   June  1990  which  was  subsequently  set  aside  on  the  22nd  of  April

1991. The Cross Appeal was dismissed by the Court of Appeal, on the ground that as far as the service of the Writ was concerned the Court held that the learned Trial Judge's reason for setting aside his previous decision of 7th July 1990 was wrong. Looking at the

panel of eminent Justices in the Court of Appeal. I have no doubt that the Court must have averted their minds to the dicta of Lord Justice Thankerton in the famous case of Watts (or Thomas) v Thomas (1947)  page 582 at  Page  587. Their  Lordship  must  have  considered  the test laid down in the case before  coming  to  their  conclusion  in  agreeing  with  the findings of the learned Trial Judge.

 

With respect  to Counsel for the Appellant, the argument urged on the issue as to whether

or not the service  of the Writ was proper is no longer  of any moment  by reason of the  fact

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that the original Writ of Summons had been amended pursuant to Order 24 Rule 2 of the

High Court Rules before it was served. On the question of service of the Writ, one Edward Fynn, a Court Bailiff testified as to how he effected the service. He was examined before  the Court and the learned Trial Judge concluded that on the totality of the evidence he had no re2son to disbelieve the witness. In Riger-Benue Transport Co Ltd. v Marumal and Sons (Nigeria) Ltd. (1989) LP (Comm) 185 cited by Counsel for  the  Appellant,  the  Supreme Court of the Federal Republic of Nigeria was dealing with a situation where the  Trial Judge's decision was based on his evaluation of the credibility of the witness, manner and demeanor. At Page 91 the Court said:-

 

"A  Court of Appeal will not normally  interfere with tl1e findings of fact of  a trial Court unless  such  findings  are  perverse  If  the  findings  are based on the credibility of witnesses a Court of trial which has the advantage of seeing and watching their demeanor 1s in a dominant position. If however, the complaint is as to non evaluation or improper evaluation of the evidence tendered before the trial Court the Court of Appeal is in a good position as the trial Court".

 

I wish to observe that though Counsel for the Appellant had said some disparaging things about the testimony of Mr. Fynn, he failed to prove that the findings of fact based on the evidence of the demeanor of Mr. Fynn and Mr. Bongay, who was the Under Sheriff and the documentary evidence presented before him were perverse. The Court of Appeal rightly appreciated the fact that in such a situation the learned Trial Judge was in a dominant position.

 

In Joint Venture Construction v Conteh (1970-71) ALR SL. 145; the Court  of  Appeal reiterated the same well ,mown principle of law that Judges findings made after hearing the witness and observing their demeanor are entitled to great weight and should not be disturbed unless it is clear that they are unsound. Suffice it to say that the complaint about the findings has not been justified.

 

 

 

 

 

Learned  Counsel  for  the  Appellant  placed  great  reliance  on  the  case  of  the  Mane

Constance (1877) Maritime Law cases which involved service of Writ of Summons 1n action

in rem and also in the case of Prince Bernard (1963) P.D 117. The service was held to be irregular, because it was not nailed to the Mast of the Vessel in accordance with Order IV Rule 10 of the Rules of Supreme Court. In that case the Writ was served on the Master on board the Ship. The Judge insisted that the Writ of Summons should be served in a proper manner. In this appeal, there is evidence which the learned Trial Judge accepted that the amended Writ of Summons was pasted on the Mast of the Ship as was in the above cases. This view of mine is reinforced by the evidence of the Bailiff where he deposed as follows -

 

"When we went on board the Customs officer asked for the Captain of the vessel. We went to his Cabin or office. I appraised him of our mission  to arrest the ship "MASCHO STAR". I asked for the Mast of the ship We climbed up the Mast and I affixed the Writ of summons for a short time. I came down with if". The law relating to such service it to be found on Order 9 r 12, which states as follows:

 

"In Admiralty Action in rem service of a Writ of Summons or Warrant aga111st ship freight or cargo on board is to be effected by nailing or affixing the original Writ or Warrant for a short time on the main Mast or on the single Mast of the Vessel and on taking off process leaving the true copy of it nailed or fixed in its place".

 

In my view the Court of Appeal quite rightly accepted the learned trial Judge's conclusion on the evidence of the Bailiff, who effected service of the Writ, because they appeared to have followed the guidelines laid down in Watt or Thomas v Thomas. The cases of the Glannibanta (1876) 1 PD. 283 at page 287; Grace Shipping Inc. and Another v CF.  Sharp & Co. (Malaya) P T.E. Lid. (1987) LRC (Comm) page 550 at page 563. Armagas Ltd. v Mundogas S.A. (The Ocean Frost (1985) 2 Lloyd's Report at page 57. Benmax v Austin Motor Co. (1955) A.ER. 326 at page 328 and Coglan v Cumberland  (1896) 1 Ch D 704 - all of these cases deal with the same general principles and circumstances in which an Appeal Court was entitled to interfere with the conclusions of a trial Judge.  I opine that none of them laid a new ground or different principle of law.

 

The situation which should warrant the Court of Appeal to interfere with the findings  of a trial Judge does not exist here, and in my own judgment I am satisfied that  the requirements as regard proof of service was fully complied with by tl1e Respondent This therefore leads me to say that the case of Barclays Bank of Ghana Ltd. v Ghana Cable Co Ltd. and Others (1998 and 1999) GLR1 and Brakowa v Awuak Yewa (1956) 2 WALR 164 both of which turn on how service should be proved are irrelevant to the matter on an appeal by reason of the fact that the issue of service was adequately addressed and  proved. The conclusion is that there is no merit in grounds 1, 2 and 10 of the appeal.

 

I think it will be idle to contend that our High Court Rules of 1960 are not silent as regards Admiralty action in rem if ii had not been silent it would have made provision for obtaining Judgment in default in Admiralty action in rem Order 52 Rule 3 of the High Court Rules  1960 saves the situation by providing as follows:

 

"Where no other provision is made by the rules the procedure practice and forms in force in the High Court of Justice in England on the 1st day of January 1960 so far as can be conveniently applied shall be in force in the High Court."

 

In the circumstances the need to resort to the pertinent provisions in the English Supreme Court Rules 1961 arises. It is, therefore, apposite to refer to Order 13 r 12A which provides as follows:

"In Admiralty action in rem if the defendant does not appear within the time limited for appearance upon filing by the plaintiff of the  proper  affidavit  of Service (emphasis mine) and a statement of claim and a certificate of non­ appearance the action may on the expiration of twenty-one days  from  the service of the Writ be set down for judgment by default".

 

It is stated in the Rules that such service gives the Court Jurisdiction to pronounce Judgment

(The Nanlik (1895 p. 121).

 

Order 13 Rule13 Default in Admiralty Action

 

•

This Rule briefly stated says that in Admiralty action in rem upon default of appearance if.

when the action comes before him, the Judge is satisfied that the plaintiff's claim is well­ founded he may pronounce for the claim and may make such order as he shall think Just

 

It is observed that Counsel for the Appellant who had been arguing against the resort to Order 52 Rule 3, when he entered his appearance he made it appearance under protest which does not exist in our High Court Rules. It is a conditional appearance that 1s normally used in Admiralty proceedings. How then can Counsel be heard to complain about the use of a wrong procedure when his own appearance under authority of the law which he had cited to wit; B.M  Dakhlallah  v Horse Import and Export and Others  CC.   4 92/04 amounted to a nullity. In that case the Court said a conditional appearance is not sanctioned by our High Court Rules. Muria J.A at Page 6 held that it is an irregularity of substance and concluded that in law there was no appearance at all in place.

 

This decision which the learned Counsel placed reliance upon rendered his appearance under protest a nullity and that being so he cannot claim to have a locus in this matter. But being aware of the dictum of Liversey-Luke JSC in Sierra Leone Oxygen Factory v PB Pyne-Bailey (Judgment dated 10th May 1974 Unreported page 20. He said inter allia

 

"The Rule making body in its wisdom has made provision for dealing with cases where there has been non-compliance with the Rules. Order 50 Rule 1 of the High Court Rules provides as follows. Etc etc. This rule empowers the Court to disregard the irregularities and to decide on the material question The Court is thereby enabled to do justice without placing undue premium on technicalities."

 

Adopting the above dictum the irregular appearance entered by Counsel for the Appellant may be overlooked inorder to do justice and shed away technicalities.

 

I am satisfied on the available evidence that the Respondent has complied fully with the necessary provisions of the rules requiring:-

 

 

I)

 

1. filing of a proper affidavit of service

 

 

2. filing of a statement of claim

 

 

3. filing of certificate of non-appearance before ...

 

 

4. setting down the action for judgment by default

 

 

Perhaps I should elaborate on the above requirements

 

 

As regards the filing of a proper affidavit of service that issue was adequately dealt with both in the Court of trial and the Court of Appeal

 

1. There is no doubt that there is a statement of claim.

 

 

2. Certificate of non-compliance is found on page 33 of the records dated the 6th  day of June 1990 and signed by A Showers - Master and Registrar

 

3. As for setting down the action for judgment. This means on motion for Judgment The requirement is that the original Writ must be annexed to the affidavit of service before judgment in default can be obtained (The Eppos (1885).

 

The learned Counsel for the Appellant cited the cases  of  in  the  Estate  of  F-c1rker (Deceased) Hagen and Another v John and others (1920-36) ALR (SL) 21. and Poku and Another v Kwao and Another (1989-90) GLR 82 both of which  can be said to saying,  in the case of the earlier one that the absence of the English provision in our Rules could be deliberate, whilst the latter one is a Ghanaian case where  the  Court  found  that  their  Rules are not silent on the particular point. The result is that these two  cases  are distinguishable  from the situation in the matter on appeal

 

Learned Counsel for the Appellant in an attempt to buttress his contention  that  the Court should not have resorted to Order 52 Rule 3 found comfort in relying on Order  1O  Rule 5 of  the High Court Rules, which in his opinion is the appropriate rule for the Admiralty Act,0n  in rem. To use his words he said:

10

 

"I submitted that resort to English Rules for judgment in default in this action was unnecessary since there is an adequate provision under our Rules and under Order X for default judgment in Admiralty Actions. Counsels contention is that switching should not be automatic and whole-sale switching must be selective. I therefore urge your Lordships to hold that my interpretation of Order 53 Rules 3 of the old Rules is the correct interpretation I submit that their contention that since this case is an Admiralty Action in rem action Order 10 in particular Rules 5, 3 and 11 are inapplicable is a wrong statement of the

law".

 

 

On the other hand the Respondent's side contends quite rightly that Order 10 Rule 5 does not apply to these proceedings because it provides thus

 

"Where the Writ is indorsed with a claim for pecuniary damages only or fo1 detention of goods with or without a claim for pecuniary damages··

 

In my view, this is a correct statement of the law, when one views it against the background of the Respondent's original claim, which is for both a liquidated and unliquidated amount The original claim is for the sum of U$469,500/00 which was amended to the sum of U$290,300/00 being the resale value of the goods short-delivered and/or damaged and consequential loss plus interest on the amount at the rate of 12 per centum per annum. The record shows that judgment in default obtained by the Respondent was for only the liquidated part of the claim. I hold the view that it would have been inappropriate if the Respondent had proceeded under Order 25 or whatever other rules in our High Court Rules. For all the reasons I have endeavoured to state above, I dismiss grounds 3 and 4 of the appeal.

 

Ground 5 - Award of Damages in United States Currency

 

 

Counsel for the Appellants contended that the learned trial  judge  had  no  Jurisdiction  to award damages in foreign currency i.e. U.S. when the only evidence disclosed was that the preponderant (98%) loss suffered by them was in Leone Currency.  He  submitted  that  to frame your claim in foreign currency without proof of loss in such currency ought no to be countenanced by the Court. He derived support for this view in the case of Castrol Limited

11

..

 

v John Michael Motors Limited SC Civ. App. No.1.198 where  Or. Ade Renner-Thomas Chief Justice said at page 30 said:

 

"It is clear in this case that the currency in which the Respondent called on business in Sierra Leone was as at all  material  times  the  Leones.  The  only time a foreign currency came into the  reckoning  was  when  John  Michael Motors had to settle Castro's invoices for the supply of the products

 

It seems to me that this decision must be restricted lo its facts and circumstances and save that I respectfully agree with the judgment as a correct statement of the law and as it accords with commercial sense. I agree with the Respondent's side that this case is distinguishable from the instant case. Counsel for the Appellant also relied on the following cases:

 

1. Alex Hawni Factor Ltd. v. Modern Injection Moulds Ltd. (1981) 3ALLE.R.658 which dealt with the issue of jurisdiction to include interest in default judgment and whether Court having jurisdiction to award interest up to entry of judgment

 

2. Jefford and Anor v. Gee [1970) 1ALL.E.R.1202. This is a case where the Cou11 considered the principles applicable in awarding interest on special and general damages in Personal Injury and Fatal accident case. In my view this case is irrelevant to the issues in this matter.

 

A mass of other authorities was cited and relied upon by the Appellant's Counsel. I have devoted some time to read them through and discovered that most of them lay down principles of law which are general and clear and others relate to the application of principles to certain circumstances which are not the same as those in the instant case

 

In my opinion, with due respect to Counsel for the Appellant, I think a good deal  of  his argument is beside the point; for example, Counsel drew our attention to the Bill of Lading Having relied upon it he cannot then be heard to say that new matters are  being  raised Counsel submitted that because the Bill  of Lading  was endorsed  to the first  plaintiff  for  the 2nd plaintiff, the first plaintiff was the owner of the consignment of rice destined  for  sale in  Sierra Leone. He contended that the Currency of his business must be presumed to be in

 

Leone Currency. This contention seems to me to ignore what the Bills of Lading itself says Respondents Counsel drew attention to second page of the Bill of Lading, where it Is endorsed to the 2nd Plaintiff investment Sierra Leone & Development Holdings Ltd for Richab S.A. It is their contention that the property in the goods remained with Richab SA a foreign Company doing business in Switzerland. Attention is also drawn to the fact that the Bill of Lading states the Currency of the contract between the Appellant and the Respondents and the freight is expressed to be payable as per Charter Party dated London 31/1/1990 Respondents Counsel submitted that the property in the goods was never transferred to Sierra Investment Development Holding Ltd. In support of this subm1ss1on Counsel derive support from Halsburys Laws of England 4th Edition  paragraph  1355 at page 1048 under rubric "Transfer to Agent" where the learned Author stated the law as follows:

 

"A Bill of Lading may be transferred  to an agent  merely  for purposes  of convenience  to enable him deal with the goods specified in it on behalf of  the  owner.  as  for example, where he is authorized to take delivery of them to stop them in transit

 

Counsel also relied on the dictum of Lord Ellenborough in Warin v Cox (1808) 1 Camp 369 on the issue of indorsement of a bill of lading: He said-

 

·'No case has gone so far as to decide that a bill of lading transferable like a bill of exchange and that the mere signature of the person entitled to the  delivery  of  the goods prima facie passes property  in them to the indorsee..  There  must  be  value upon the indorsement of a bill of lading or no property in the goods is thereby transferred."

 

In order to satisfy the demands  of modern  Commercial  transactions  in a situation  like  this the Courts have allowed the recovery of the full value represented by any negotiable instruments. For instance, in a contract of carriage of this nature, I think it is reasonable to expect damages for loss or breach to be calculated in currency in which the loss was felt or which most  truly  expresses  his loss. See The Despina R. (1979) 1 ALL ER.  421 at page

       429. I think ii is important to note that the consignment of rice in the instant case could not

have been purchased with Leones. I will take judicial notice of the fact that in this jurisdiction, award in Admiralty Action in rem has unusually been in foreign currency

 

Examples of this can be found in the cases of MV.  Sylt Schiffahrtsge  Sell Shart and other v Gambia National Line and Another Civ. App. Nos. 3 and 4 of 90) No.25 (unreported) CC 487 96 Ibrahim Bazzy and Sons. (A firm) v The Owners and/or Person interested in the Vessel "The Santiago De Cuba (unreported) among many others. It is my view that the "Texaco Melbourne (1994) 1 Lloyds. Report 473 is not on all fours with the facts in the instant case. In that case the goods shipped were not delivered, whereas in the instant  case the Respondent's claim is for short delivery. Again in the Texaco Melbourne both plaintiffs' were Ghanians doing business in Ghana, where cedis is their currency In sum. I am not persuaded that Respondents are not entitled to claim in United States Dollars as they did. Ground 5 of the appeal therefore fails.

 

Coming to ground 6 which turns upon the construction of section 4 Cap 19 of the Laws of Si8rra Leone 1960. Appellants Counsel's contention is that the High Court erred in law when it awarded interest until payment. The relevant section provides as follows

 

Section 4(1) "In  any  proceedings  tried  in  any  Court  of  record  for 11:e  recovery of any debt or damages, the Court may, if it thinks fit, order that there shall be included in the sum  for  which  judgment  is  given  interest  at  such  rate  as  It thinks fit on the whole or any part of the debt  or  damages  for  the  whole  or  any part of the period between  the  date  when  the  cause  of  action  arose  and  the date of the judgment." (emphasis mine).

 

This is a correct statement of the law and happily enough the  Respondents  have conceded the point. The result is that ground six of the appeal succeeds.

 

GROUNDS  7 AND 8

 

 

What seems to be the issue here is not that interest cannot be awarded on a foreign currency judgment. Appellant's contention is whether or not it is necessary to call Expert witnesses. I share the view that there is nothing in Section 4 of Cap 19 - Laws of Sierra Leone Reform which requires calling of Expert witnesses before interest local or foreign is awarded. In deed our Courts have adopted the principle enunciated in Miliango S. V. George Frank (Textiles) Lid. No.2 (1976) 3 ALL ER. 599 as regards the fixing of interest. The principle was applied in M/V Sylt (supra), see also Commercial Enterprises Ltd. v

I4

,

 

Whitakers Property  Ltd.  and  Donald  Macaulay  Civ.  App.  23191.  In  that  case the Court of Appeal reduced the rate of interest from 45% to 12% without any witnesses  being  called on  the issue. The law is settled that where the rate  of  interest  is  11ot  fixed  by  statute. agreement or usage there is no hard and fast rule as to the amount that will be allowed depending on the circumstances of the particular case - see Halburys Laws of England 3rd  Edition Vol.27 at Paragraph 12 Page 11.

 

As regards the entering of judgment for less than the amount pleaded From my knowledge and experience one can complain about entering judgment for over and above what is claimed, but I have not come across any law which precludes a plaintiff from entering judgment for less than what he had originally claimed. It is when it is above that one has to file an amended Writ or claim. I agree with the learned Counsel for the Appellant that the interest which should have been awarded is 12% as claimed in the Writ of Summons It is my view that the authorities cited by the Appellant's  Counsel are not appropriate  Grounds 7 and 8 are hereby disposed of.

 

GROUND 9

On ground 9 the complainant by the appellant is that:

 

 

"The Court of Appeal erred in law in restoring the decision of the learned trial Judge when he awarded cost of the action to the Plaintiff/Respondent in United States Dollars (U$37,000I00) for cost incurred by tile Plaintiff/Respondent in Sierra Leone there being no legal basis for the aware! of cost in foreign currency for work done in Sierra Leone".

 

The reason for quoting the above ground in extenso will be apparent later in this judgment

 

 

It is generally said in legal parlance that 'costs follow the event,' this phrase simply means that success in the litigation being followed by the award of costs. In the case of Donald Campbell & Co Ltd. V. Pollock 1927 AC.  732. It was held that "A Judge ought not to refuse cost to the successful party except for reason connected with the case”. Also cost is at the discretion of the Judge in the exercise of this discretion, that is, he has that element of latitude to award cost. However, this is not to say that an appellate court is excluded from interfering with the award of cost whether there is an appeal against the award or not.

 

The issue here is the award of costs in foreign currency for work  done in Sierra  Leone have no wish to say or write anything which might seem to fetter the discretion of the learned trial Judge, as it appears to me that in this case the facts on the record of proceedings are plain and straight forward - most of the work done was done in Sierra Leone. The institution of the action, filing of the motion, and the documents in support thereto were all done here in Sierra Leone. Again purchase of empty bags, handling and re-bagging survey etc. took place here. There fore in my view, since all these activities took place in Sierra Leone cost awarded should have been in Leones instead of dollars. Taking all this into consideration in my judgment, this is not a proper case for the award of cost in foreign currency. I agree with Mr. Gooding that there is no legal basis for the award in foreign currency.

 

I do not intend to rest this ground here, as I wish to address the issue of the quantum awarded as cost. But can I do so when there is no appeal on quantum? The answer lies in the 1991 Constitution and the general powers of the Court of Appeal Rules.

 

Section 122(3) of the Constitution states:

 

 

"For the purpose of hearing and determining any matter within its jurisdiction and the amendment execution or the enforcement of any judgment or order made in any such matter and for the purpose of any other authority or by necessary implication given to it, the Supreme Court shall have all the powers authority and jurisdiction vested in any Court established by this Constitution or any other law"

 

r 32 of the Court of Appeal Rules states:

 

 

"The Court may from time to time make any order necessary for determ11Hng the real  question  in controversy  in the appeal  and  may  amend  any  defect  or error in the record of appeal and may  direct  the Court  below  to enquire  into and certify its findings on any question which the Court think fit to determine before final judgment in the appeal and may make any  interim order  or grant  any injunction which the Court below is authorized to make or grant and may

 

...) \

direct any necessary enquires or account to be made or take and generally shall have full jurisdiction over the whole proceedings as ;f the proceeding had been instituted and prosecuted in the Court or Court of 1st  instance and may rehear the whole case or remit it to the Court below  to be reheard or to be otherwise dealt with as the Court may direct."

 

.., In reliance on the combined effect of those two provisions, I think this Court is eminently placed to assume jurisdiction and power to deal with the issue of quantum in this appeal

 

The learned trial Judge awarded the sum of U$37,000/00 in United States Dollars  as cost to the Plaintiff/Respondent. The judgment which attracted the said amount was a Judgment in default of appearance. The action was not tried on its merit and so the substantive consideration like the importance and difficulty of the case, the attendance and examination of witnesses, which should have been taken into account in the assessment of the cost to be awarded were absent. I dare say the judgment in default of appearance was based on c1 technical matter of procedure. In my view, these are aspects which the learned trial Judge ought to have taken into consideration in making an award. In the result. I consider the sum of U$37,000/00 inordinately high and in any event ought to have been assessed in Leones.

 

In the circumstances,

 

 

(1) In the circumstances, there will be Judgment in favour of  the  Respondents  for  the sum of U$290,300/00 to be paid in Leones equivalent at the prevailing  Bank  rate being the resale value of goods short delivered

 

(2) Interest on the said amount at the rate of 12% per annum from the 24°' day of April.

1990 to the date of this Judgment.

 

 

(3) As regards the costs in the High Court I award the sum of thirty mi/Inn Leones (Le30,000, 000/00).

 

(4) Costs of this Appeal to the Respondent such costs be taxed.

 

SUPREME COURT OF SIERRA LEONE CIV.APP.NO:6/200

 

 

BETWEEN:

 

 

THE OWNERS OF THE SHIP "MV MASCHO STAR"

 

AND RICHAB S.A.

SIERRA INVESTMENT AND

DEVELOPMENT HOLDINGS LTD

 

APPELLANTS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

RESPONDENTS

 

 

 

CORAM

HON. MS. JUSTICE U.H. TEJAN-JALLOH - J.S.C. HON. MR. JUSTICE G. SEMEGA-JANNEH - J.S.C. HON. MR. JUSTICE M.E.T. THOMPSON - J.S.C. HON. MS. JUSTICES. KOROMA - J.S.C.

HON. MR. JUSTICE EKU ROBERTS - J.A. COUNSEL:

A.J.B. GOODING ESQ. FOR THE APPELLANTS YADA WILLIAMS ESQ. FOR THE RESPONDENTS

 

JUDGMENT DELIVERED ON THE 3RD DAY OF MARCH, 2009.

 

SEMEGA-JANNEH - J.S.C.

 

 

INTRODUCTION

 

This case was commenced by the issuance of a Writ of Summons dated the, 20th 

April 1990, and since, it had found its way slowly indeed extremely slowly

 

 

 

►

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32..

 

......,. ··················································..·..,,  .............

Hor\. Ms. Justice U.H Tejan-Jalloh - Chief Justice

.

 

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: Agree

 

················ ································································

 

Hon. Mr. Justice G. Semega-Janneh

 

J.S.C.

 

 

 

I Agree ····················································································

 

Hon. Mr. Justice M.E. Tolla Thompson

 

J.S.C.

 

 

 

 

 

I Agree

 

·······································································..........

 

Hon. Ms. Justice S. Koroma

 

J.S.C

 

 

 

/

• • • • • • • •.•.••• • • •.  •.••.•.,I,••••••:•....•.•.• • • • • .•. ,..,• , .  , , .  , ,

 

ustice E. Roberts

 

J.A.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

REF: CJ/HJ

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

)

 

•

2

 

through the High Court, the Court of Appeal and now rest before this Court The case arose out of a bill of lading concerning the consignment of rice which v1as short delivered and/or damaged. Usually, cases of this nature, speaking from experience, are quickly settled through negotiations and, if negotiations fail the Courts try to dispose of the matter quickly. Why the case lasted so long in the Courts beats the imagination: but. I am hoping, it will find a final resting  place in  this Court.

 

THE FACTS

The Respondents (Plaintiffs in the High Court) were entitled to a consignment of rice under a bill of lading shipped to Freetown. Sierra Leone, on board the vessel "MV Mascho Star". The consignment was short delivered and/or damaged An action in rem was commenced in the High Court against the Appellants (Defendants in the High Court) on the 20'h April 1990 for the sum of US$689,750.00 being resale value of 30,000 bags of rice, short delivered and/or damaged,  inclusive  of the sum  of US  $17,750.00,  for  purchase  of  empty bags,

payment  of labour  and  survey  fees, and interest  thereupon  at  the rate of 12 per

centum per annum from the 1st April  1990  till payment  (see  pages  25  and  26  of the Main Records (M.R)).

 

On the 24 th April 1990 the Writ of Summons, with the indorsed  statement  of claim, was amended, reducing the  sums  claimed  to US$469,500.00,  reflecting the resale value of 20,000 bags of rice instead of 30,000, inclusive of USS21 .500. for purchase of empty bags, labour and survey fees (see pages 1-3 of Supplemental Records (S.R)). No further amendments were made to the Writ of Summons and the indorsed statement of claim. On the 24th April 1990, pursuant

to Court Order made on the 23rd April 1990, the vessel "MV Mascho Star' was arrested and, at the same time, the amended Writ of Summons was served  by  Mr. Edward Fynn, a process server.

 

•

3

 

On an Ex-parte Motion for Judgment  in Default  of Appearance  dated the 6t

 

 

 

 

 

June

 

1990 and supported by affidavit,  judgment  was  pronounced  by  the  learned  Judge on the 7'h June 1990 in  favour  of  the Plaintiffs  (Respondents  herein)  for  the  sum of US$290,000.00 with interest  thereon  at  the  rate  of  15%  per  annum  from  the 24th day of April 1990 till payment and costs assessed at US$37,000 00 The

rate of 15% per annum was prayed for on the .face of the Ex-parte Motion (See page 25 of the M.R.).

 

The Defendants (Appellants herein) entered appearance  under  protest  on  the 15th June 1990. On the same date, they filed a Notice of Motion to set aside the Default Judgment on objections stated on the face of the Notice of Motion and reproduced hereunder as follows:-

 

1. That the service of the amended Writ of Summons dated the

24th day of April 1990 herein and all subsequent proceedings be set aside for irregularity on the following.grounds:-

 

(a) That the said amended Writ of Summons was served on Captain Mukadom of the MN "Masco Star" contrary to the rules and practice of the Court.

 

(b) Further or in the alternative the copy  of  the  original amended Writ of Summons was neither  affixed on the mast of the said MN "Mascho Star" nor affixed inside the

wheel house as required by the rules and practice of the Admiralty Court.

 

2. Further or in the alternative that the Judgment entered by the Plaintiffs on the 7th June 1990 in default of appearance be set aside for irregularity on the following grounds -

 

 

 

 

 

J

 

 

 

(a) That the Ex  Parle  application  for  Judgment  in  Default  elated 6th June 1990 and the affidavit in support herein did not

comply with the rules and practice of the Court in that the Affidavit of Service of the amended Writ  of  Summons  was not annexed to the application.

 

(b) The Affidavit in support of the application did not annex the original Amended Writ of Summons as required by the Rules of Court.

 

(c) The amended Writ of Summons was not served on the Defendants in accordance with the Rules and Practice of the Court in that it was served on the Captain of the MN "Mascho Star"

 

(d) That the Affidavit of Service did not annex the original amended Writ of Summons

 

(e) That the claim for damages and breach of contract indorsed and prayed for in the Amended Writ of Summons are for unliquidated damages and for which the Judgment in Default of Appearance Rules require either a Writ of Inquiry to be issued or damages assessed by the Court and cannot be awarded as a result of an Ex Parte Notice of Motion

 

In consequence of the application. the learned trial Judge set aside the Judgn1ent in Default by Order dated the 22nd   April. 1991.

 

Aggrieved by the decision of the High Court. the Plaintiffs (Respondents herein), by Notice of Appeal dated the 20"' May 1991. appealed to the Court of Appeal

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Defendants (Appellants herein) cross appealed by Notice of Appeal dated June1991

 

The appeals were heard together on the 20"' February  1992  and  on  diverse dates thereinafter by the Court of Appeal, constituted by the Hon. Justice EC Thompson-Davis J.S.C., Justice M.O. Adophy J.S.C.  and  Justice  M 0. TaIu­ Deen J.A. On the 5th April 2000, the Court restored the Judgment in Default in favour of the Respondents herein.

 

The Appellants herein, being dissatisfied with the decision of the Court of appeal appealed to this Court by Notice of Appeal dated the 3rd  July· 2000 on the following grounds:

 

1 The Court of Appeal failed to consider the Cross Appeal and gave no reasons for dismissing the Cross Appeal In the light of tl1e evidence before it, to wit:-

 

a. The affidavits of Edward Fynn sworn to on the  5th  day  of June 1990 and the 28th  1 day of June 1990: and the affidavit of Ade Renner-Thomas sworn to on the 28th day of June, 1990

 

b. The indorsement at the back of the writ of summons herein made by the same Edward Fynn;

 

c. The oral testimony given by the same Edward Fynn before the Learned trial judge on the 13"' July 1990:

 

d. The oral testimony of Edward Kamanda Bongay (the Under­ Sheriff) which contradicted that of Edward Fynn

 

 

 

 

thereby wrongly holding "I have no reason,  to disbelieve  the totality of his evidence", referring to the evidence  of  Edward  Fynn  the Court Bailiff who served the Writ of Summons.

 

(ii) Further and in the alternative, if it is  held  that  the Court of Appeal considered the Cross Appeal  the Court was wrong to uphold the Learned Trial Judge's ruling that the service of the Writ of Summons  was valid even though the said service failed to  c:ompiy with the provisions of Order 9 Rule 12 of the Supreme Court Rules of England 1960.

 

(iii) The Court of Appeal erred in law when it held inter  alia, as follows:-

 

"There is no contention that the action before us is an Admiralty Action in rem which arose out of the jurisdiction of the High Court. Our High  Court  rules are silent on the Rules governing  any  such  action. We therefore need to know which Rules  of  Court  would apply.

 

The Respondents are urging me to hold that since there are no specific rules governing Admiralty action in rem, the general Orders applying elsewhere in our Rules, would apply to such actions.

 

I must here state that I have noticed a conspicuous fallacy in their argument with regard to the rules to be applied to the application. Learned Counsel Mrs. Lisk had this to say "Since there are no specific rules

 

>- 7

 

governing admiralty action in rem, the general orders applying elsewhere in our rules would apply to such actions". That cannot be true, when our  rules  are silent we have a legal obligation to go to the English rules of court for the year 1961. By order 13 of the Supreme Court Rules of England 1961 under which in an appropriate action. a Plaintiff fin al  Judgment against a Defendant for a liquidated demand  where that Defendant has failed to  enter  an  appearance after the time fixed, does not apply to an Admiralty Action in rem ...

 

In an admiralty action in rem, judgment for any defendant can only be obtained by motion·

1n that it failed to have regard to and/or apply the provisions of Order 10 Rule 5 of

the High Court which is in the following terms -

 

 

"Where the writ is indorsed with a claim for pecuniary damages only or for the detention of goods with or without a claim for pecuniary damages, and the defendant  fails or  the  defendants. if more that one, fail to appear.  the Plaintiff may enter interlocutory judgment and a writ of inquiry shall issue to assess

the value of the goods and the damages or the damages disclosed

by the indorsement on the writ of summons."

 

 

The High Court Rules are not silent regarding rules relating  to  the procedure in  an Admiralty Action in Rem. Most of these rules are general provisions applicable to all actions including Admiralty Action in Rem

 

In particular the provisions of the afore-mentioned rule, apply to all actions including an Admiralty Action in rem. which was the instant case. It was therefore

 

 

I

 

.)

 

8

 

not necessary to resort to Order 52 rule 3 of the High  Court  Rules  thereby invoking the Rules of the Supreme Court of England 1960.

 

(iv) The Court of Appeal erred in law when it held, inter-alia, as follows -

 

 

"To say, as the learned judge wrote in his ruling that

the Plaintiff ought to have entered an interlocutory judgment and have damages assessed by the Court is wrong and without any foundation in law".

 

in that it failed to have regard to and/or apply the provision of Order 10

rule 5 of the High Court Rules.

 

 

(v) The Court of Appeal erred in law in restoring the decision of the Learned Trial Judge when he awarded damages to the Plaintiffs in United States Dollars, when the evidence disclosed that the loss suffered by the Plaintiffs/Respondents was in Leones. The Court had no jurisdiction to award damages in foreign currency to the Plaintiff/Respondents

 

vi) The Court of Appeal erred in law in restoring the decision of  the learned  trial judge when he awarded interest "till payment", such award being in excess of the jurisdiction of the Court having regard to the provisions of Section 4 of the Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provision) Act Cap 19 of the Laws of Sierra Leone 1960.

 

vii) The Court of Appeal erred in law in restoring the decision of the Learned Trial Judge upon motion for judgement in that the latter awarded interest upon a foreign currency Judgement (United States Dollars) without the Plaintiffs/Respondents leading any expert evidence to prove what was the rate of interest in that currency.

 

 

9

 

 

 

.,..

 

 

viii

 

 

The Court of Appeal erred in restoring the decision of the learned Trial  Judge when he awarded interest at the rate of 15 per centum per annum. which is higher than the interest rate of 12 per  centum  per  annum  indorsed in the writ of summons, without making any amendment to the Statement of Claim.

 

 

ix) The Court of Appeal erred in law in  restoring  the  decision  of  the  Learned Trial Judge when he awarded costs  of  the  action  to  the Plaintiffs/Respondents in United States Dollars (US$37.000 00) for costs incurred by the Plaintiffs/Respondents in  Sierra  Leone,  there  being  no legal basis for the award of costs in  foreign  currency  for  work  done in Sierra Leone.

 

x) "On the question of the service of the said writ one Edward Fynn a Court Bailiff was called to give evidence before the Learned Trial Judge as to his participation in the service, he was examine(j before the Court and in the end of it all, the Learned Trial Judge said· I have no  reason  to disbelieve the totality of his evidence". I have to accept the Learned Trial Judge's conclusion on the point, he was in a good position to see the witness. evaluate his evidence and watch his demeanor,  as  far  as the  service of the writ is concerned. The Cross Appeal therefore fails"

 

The Court of Appeal misdirected itself. when it dismissed the Cross Appeal and upheld the Learned Trial Judge's decision that the service of the Writ of  Summons was valid without a proper consideration and evaluation of all the evidence, documentary as well as oral, relating to the service of the writ.

 

THE ISSUES

In their amended case dated the 12th  November, 2007, the Appellants ha•;e stated  eight  (8)  proposed  issues  for consideration  and resolution  by  this court !

have  essentially   accepted  the  proposed  issues  but   with  some  modifications

I

 

y

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

.,..

 

 

which, in my view, more properly reflect the issues to  be  determined  by  this court. They are as follows:

 

 

 

1. Whether or not the Court of Appeal has the Jurisdiction to re-examine,

reconsider and evaluate the evidence given in the High Court and, if the

answer   is   in   the   positive,   was   the   court right  in not vacating the

conclusions of the High Court and replace t11em witl1 its own conclusions

2

Whether or not the High Court Rules (now revoked) provides a procedure

for obtaining judgement in Default of Appearance in Admiralty Action in

rem and, if not, consequently resort had to be made to Order 52 Pule 3 of

the High Court Rules and adopt the  relevant  procedure  of  the  English Rules of 1960.

3.

Whether or not a judgement obtained in default of appearance in an

Admiralty Action in rem by motion for Judgement supported by affidavit

evidence pursuant to the relevant rules of the English Rules of 1960 is

regular and, if not, what is the effect

4.

Whether or not a court of record has Jurisdiction to award damages in

foreign currency and, if the answer 1s in the positive, can the court do so in

the circumstances of this case.

5

Whether or not the court has the jurisdiction, in the circumstances of this

case, to award the same rate of interest up to the date of payment of the

judgement sum.

6

Whether or not the court has the discretion to fix a rate of interest on a

foreign  currency  judgement  sum without  first receiving  evidence  of the rate

at which the foreign currency could be borrowed in the country in which

the said judgement sum originated

;

 

 

y

11

 

 

 

7. Whether or not the learned trial  judge  had  jurisdiction  to award a higher rate of interest on the judgement prayed for 1n the amender!  statement of claim.

 

8. Whether or not the learned trial judge had jurisdiction to assess legal costs in

                                                foreign currency

 

 

ORDER 52 RULE 3 OF THE HIGH COURT RULES AND RESORT TO THE ENGLISH RULES OF 1960

 

Order 52 rule 3 of The High Court Rules (as amended) which provides

 

 

'3 when no other provision is made by these rules the procedures. practice and forms in force in the High

Court of Justice in England on the 1st  day of January

1960, so far as they can be conveniently applied,

shall be in force in the Supreme (now High Court) Court"

 

 

is broadly and simply crafted This provision is not unique or peculiar to S1erizi Leone. Other former British Colonies. including the Gambia. Ghana and Nigeria had   similar   provisions.   The   courts   in  this  jurisdiction. have appl1ec strict interpretation or construction of the provision, which I understand to be. for t11e purpose of restricting or narrowing its application since the Sierra  Leonean case  of Re Parker (DCD) 1920-36 ALPS L 21.

 

I will now analyse some of the authorities supplied for a better appreciation of tile methods   of  interpretation  employed   by   our  courts  in  attempts   to  achieve a

◆ restricted  application  of  the  provision  In  the   Sierra   Leonean   case   of Re  Parker the  plaintiffs  by  originating  summons  sought  an  order  under  Order   55  rules  3  and

4  of  the  English  Rules  of  1908  pursuant  to  Order  65  rule  2  of  the Local Court rules

 

 

 

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)' 12

 

(which is now Order 52 rule 3,) that account, enquiry and relief should be taken. made and given The local Order 52 (LII) incorporated a paraphrase of Order 54;, (LIVA) of the English Rules with its heading "DECLARATION ON ORIGINATING SUMMONS" and Order 51 (LI) incorporated a paraphrase of Order 54 of  the English   Rules   with   its  heading  "APPLICATIONS AND  PROCEEDINGS AT CHAMBERS". The legislature, in incorporating the paraphrases  of  the  said English Rules, omitted the whole of Order 55 (LV) of the English Rules w:\h its heading  "CHAMBERS   IN  THE CHANCERY  DIVISION which was subdivided into parts, of which Part II, beginning with rule 3, had a sub-heading "Administrations and Trusts; Foreclosures and Redemption". The  full  court refused to permit the importation of rules 3 and 4 of  Order  55  of  the  English Rules of 1905 through the portal of Order 65 rule 2 of the  local  rules  for  the reason that

1) The draftsman having intentionally included one form of procedure

under originating summons the remaining forms cannot be imported through Order 65 rule 2 of _the local rules on the ground "that no provision is made" by the local rules, and

 

(2)   The fact  that the draftsman deliberately  omitted  the whole of  Order 55 dealing with chambers in chancery the procedure could not be conveniently applied to the circumstances of the colony· meaning Sierra Leone.

 

(See Re Parker at page 25 lines 18 - 26)

The conclusion reached by the court through the judgments of McDonnell, Ag. J, and of Sawney-Cookson, J, was that the questions and matters  that  the originating summons sought to be dealt with concerned administration matters  and, since Order 55 of the English Rules was deliberately omitted, the legislature must have intended that the said questions and matters must be dealt with by administration suit.

 

 

 

 

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The reasoning that the existence of one form of  Originating  Summons  in  our Local rules, disqualifies the importation of another form of  the  Originating Summons (in this case, as used in Chancery in the English Rules) on the basis that the one in our local rules qualifies as another provision under  Order 52 rule 3  is attractive, but, I can only accept the reasoning or argument if the form (or procedure) in our local rules, or some other provision, can appropriately be used instead of the intended importation. If there are rules that can be appropriately and/or conveniently applied or used in dealing with the questions or matters to be dealt with, then that rule of procedure should be used. This  seems  to have been the suggestion or conclusion reached by Sawrey-Cookson, J when in  his judgement in Re Parker, he concluded:

 

....and that the questions and matters here sought to be dealt with by originating summons must be dealt with

by a method which the legislature must be taken to have decided in its wisdom was the better suited t9 the requirements and conveniences of the colony, i.e. by administration suit"

 

An appropriate avenue was available to the plaintiffs in Re  Parker  in the local  rules for the questions and matters raised in the originating summons to be dealt with. One can reasonably conclude that the decision in Re Parker was in reality based on the fact that another provision was made in the Local Rules of 1908

No authority is provided to show that any of the former colonies gives the

provision a strict interpretation, and if any did so, whether it follows the line taken in this jurisdiction. On the contrary, the foreign cases cited seem to have been decided on the basis of an understanding of the provision. as stated in their respective jurisdiction, in its ordinary and natural meaning. Our own provision is even more simply stated and it avoids the phrase "for the time being" which has generated a great deal of controversy as to its meaning in some 1urisclict1011s Simple words and phrases are used in the provision Why impose further

 

 

I

 

 

I .J

 

 

restrictions in the applicability of the provision, other than those explicitly stated in the provision,   on  the  basis   of  assumed  intentions   of  the  draftsman? What practical  or good  purpose  does it serve7  Prevent the utilization  of a procedure for which there is  not another in our local rules, that can  be conveniently applied  to the circumstances of Sierra Leone? I am of the view that the  provision should  be understood in its ordinary and natural sense, and the court's should concern themselves in determining:

 

(1) whether there is another provision to the intended importation in our local rules and, if there is none.

 

(2) whether the intended importation can be conveniently applied in the circumstances, always bearing in mind that the circumstances of Sierra Leone today is significantly and materially different from its circumstances when the local rules were enacted

 

McDonnell, Ag. J's concerns (at page 25, lines 10 - 16 in Re Parker) of “the 64 orders of  our rules"   being   a  superfluous redundancy" and the possible undermining of "the principle of selection of English Orders  suitable to local use can be properly and adequately addressed by proper application of the restrictive principles  (criteria)  contained  in the provision Orders (or rules) that fit the said principles can be imported but those that do not fit can be rejected this Is the selective process envisaged in the provision, in my view

 

The suggestion or conclusion of the passage quoted from the Judgement of Sawrey-Cookson, J. is partially reflected in the Ghanaian case of Poku and Another   V  Kwao  and  Another  (1989-90)   2  GLR   P  82.     Ghana   has   a similar  provision provided by the High Court (Civil Procedure) Rules, 1954 (L N1404A)

Order 74 which states that:

 

l 5

 

 

 

"Where no provision is made by these rules the procedure, practice and forms in force for the time being in the High Court of Justice in England shall, so far as they can

be conveniently applied, be in force in the Supreme Court (now High Court) of the cold coast' (brackets provides)

 

In Poku's case, supra, the Applicants (Plaintiffs) commenced action by an originating summons in what purported to be an interpleader action. Upon the originating summons being served on the claimants they deposed their case in affidavits. As the affidavit raised the determination of the issue as to whether  or  not the lands had been sold to the applicants, the trial court Judge ordered pleadings to be made and to which all the parties  acquiesced  The  trial Judge gave judgement. An appeal was made to the Court of Appeal  The  Court  of Appeal held that the commencement of the proceedings by originating summons was proper as sanctioned by English rules of pra tice applicable to  Ghana  by virtue of Order 74 of LN 140A which permitted the Ghana Courts  to  have recourse to English rules and procedure where the Ghana rules were silent on an issue. On further appeal by the defendants from the decision of the Court  of Appeal, the Supreme Court, in essence, held:

 

(1) the commencement of an interpleader suit by  an  originating  summons was sanctioned by Order 57 rules 5 of the High Court (civil procedure)

Rules 1954 (LN 140A) but on the facts of the case it was not an

interpleader action. The applicants were therefore bound by Order 2 rule 1 to commence the action by writ of summons. Instead of ordering  the parties to file pleadings, the trial judge ought to have struck out the proceedings with liberty to the applicants to issue a writ, particularly as the matter was an obvious case of declaration of title and not an action for the construction of any statute, deed, instrument or document

 

 

 

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16

 

 

 

(2) resort by the Court of Appeal to Order 74 of LN 140A  to  save  the procedure from collapsing was misconceived, because that rule only came to play when no provision was made by the rules. But  Orders  1, 54 and  54A made ample provisions for commencing all actions by  writ  except those for which some other mode, such as an originating summons. was required.

 

There is a distinction between Re-Parker  and  the Poku case in that  in Re Parker a different mode for which the originating summons could be  used in the local  rules was imported to initiate the action, whereas, an appropriate procedure was available by administration suit. In the Poku case an existing  procedure  in  the local rules was used but when it was realized that the procedure was wrong. an attempt was made to correct the error by importation from the English rules  The use of originating summons was available in the local rules. The nature of an  action is not determined by the label that one decides to give it but Is determined  by the facts. The facts of the Poku case were such that the court concluded they were not indicative of an interpleader claim; and also by the endorsement of the claim on the originating summons, it was clear that no question of construction of any document or statute or instrument was involved.  The facts  revealed  matters in controversy that ought to have been determined by a trial commenced by writ. There was no need to import a corrective procedure; the "correction" could have been done by striking out the action with liberty to the Applicants to issue a writ.

 

I appreciate the second reason for the rejection of the importation in Re Parker The inference I deduce from the reasoning is that the intentional omission of the whole of Order 55 was because it could not "be conveniently applied to the circumstances of this colony" meaning Sierra Leone. McDonnell Ag.J. in his judgement posed the question "why were some orders included and others rejected". He gave the answer at page 25 in these words:

 

 

 

I-

 

.. 49

17

 

"One can well believe that the procedure in chancery chambers was considered unsuitable to the needs of this colony (Sierra Leone) and that omission  to provide for it was intentional" (Brackets Provided)

 

The belief may be well founded but could the omission not  have  been  based  on other well founded or plausible beliefs? Could it not have been that the omission of Order 55 (and other Orders) was that, at that moment in or period of time, actions for which the omitted Order could have been used were not common, if  at  all,  in the small colony of Sierra Leone and, as a result, the draftsman did not want  to burden  our local rules with Orders that would be infrequently used, if used at all.  and could be resorted to in the rare needs for its application or, indeed, resorted to more frequently in the future as the circumstances of the colony (Sierra Leone)  require  more frequent application of the Order?. In short, the circumstances of Sierra Leone might change  in  the course  of  time (as it certainly  has  since  Re  Parker)  to make it

practicable  for  the  omitted  orders  (or  rules)  to be conveniently  applied  to  the new

 

circumstances.

 

 

Notwithstanding the likelihood of other probable and/or well founded beliefs for the omission, I may willing to  accept  the  reasoning  of  McDonnell,  Ag J,  as  stated, provided that the omitted Order  does  not bear  a  relationship  with  or  is  not  of  the same genre as any of the Orders in the local rules, and is only made or placed in a different Order in the English rules  as  a  matter  of  convenience. What would  be  difficult to accept  is if  the  reasoning  is extended  to cover  omissions  of  some  aspects  or rules of the English Order that is  embodied  into  the  local  rules.  If  the  reasoning. with such an extension, is accepted, it would most  certainly  have  the effect  of  barring the importation of any English rule or Order and  would  render  Order  52 rule  3 of the High Court Rules redundant and,  therefore,  raised  the  question:  Why  was  the  Order 52 rule 3 provided in the first place?

 

18

 

In my view, Order 52 rule 3 was included into the local rules for useful and practical purposes. By comparison to the English Rules, our Rules are not detailed or all embracing. It may be said with truth, echoing the words of Mac0onnell. Ag J in the Re-Parker at page 24, that the rules are an abridgement of the  White  Book  embodying such of the provisions of the latter as were  considered  suitable  for  a small country. It must be borne in mind that Sierra Leone  is  no  longer  a  small country in contrast to the time of Re Parker. In fact  even  the English  Orders  that have been made into our Rules are generally a paraphrase of the corresponding English Order or Rule. I am of the considered view that Order 52 Rule 3 is meant to save a situation for which there is no appropriate procedure (that is. no  other  provision) in the local rules provided it can be conveniently applied to the circumstances. The Courts ought to approach the use of Order 52 rule  3  in  a practical manner, as they have done in other situations, with a view of avoiding the frustration of justice by reason of gaps or inadequacies in our local Rules that can

easily and conveniently be overcome by resort to the English Rules, 1960.

 

 

The objections nationalistic or otherwise, in respect of Order 52 Rule 3 of our local rules, and similar provisions, in other jurisdiction, could  have  long  been  resolved after independence by our legislatures. This long standing failure on the part of our legislatures, and in the case of Ghana the presence of the phrase  "for  the  time  being" which seems to allow the importation of the English Rules as  they  are changed, amended or extended from time to time over the years gave rise to the strident nationalistic outcry of Taylor J S.C  in  the  Poku  case  at  pages  91-9  in these words:

"It seems to me that the provision (Order 74 of LN 140A) if applied in  this

case must be considered to be unfortunate  and certainly  an ill-foundation  in modern conditions on which to rest decisions of the courts of  a  sovereign Republic. Its continued existence in our statute  law,  must  be due to the lethargic manner in which our post-independence legislatures regard and carry out their duties. Such lack of realism will make our legal system  to mirror  the aspirations  of non-Ghanaians  and foreign jurists and

 

19

 

undermine our legal order as a reflection of the social and economic conditions existing in our own society I have indicated elsewhere in judgments I previously delivered that I deprecate the approach to legal reasoning which mandatorily forces us to be bound by fluctuations in thinking in other judicial forums" (BRACKETS PROVIDED)

 

One strongly identifies with this cogent statement but until our legislatures are galvanized into action, as they have now done in this jurisdiction and  some  others with a similar provision, the Courts must continue to interpret and deal with situations arising out of or connected with such Order or similar Orders.

 

In the High Court case  of  B.M. Dakhlallah  and Horse Import  and  Export  and Others

C.C 492/04, Muria J.A. held that the conditional appearance entered by the 1st  Defendant   was  of  no  effect  since  our  local  rules  did  not  have   a  provision  for

conditional  appearance,  following  the decision  of  Doherty,  J , in the  Cup Company

 

Limited v Sierra Leone  Airlines  (81

 

November 2004). He capped his reasoning by

 

making reference to the case of Davies and Co. v. Andrea and Co. [1924] OB 598

No power to enter conditional appearance when it is not provided for.

 

 

Muria J.A, with all respects  to  him,  in  my  view,  wrongly  extended  the  reasoning  1n Re Parker, for the rejection of  the  importation  of  the  whole  of  an  English  Order. which, it was presumed, had been intentionally omitted by the draftsman  in the  local  rules, to also cover situations in which a rule (or some rules) of an English  Order  is omitted in the embodiment into our local rules, when, in the  Judgment  at  page 4, he states

 

"there  is no  conditional  appearance  under  our  High Court Rules The provisions for appearance contained in 0. 9 which adopted  some,  but not all, of the provisions of 0.12 of the English Supreme Court Rules as 111

force on the 1st January 1961. One of those provisions omitted was

conditional appearance. I think it is correct to assume that the draftsman

 

;

 

 

 

 

21

 

"One can well believe that the  procedure  in  Chancery  Chambers was considered unsuitable to the needs of the colony (Sierra Leone) and that omission to provide for it was intentional?

To interpret 0.LXV, r 2 (now 0.52r 3), in such a  way as to enable any provision contained in the White Book (the English Rules) 1905  to  be applied here would, be in my opinion, lead to an absurdity, by making the preceding 64 orders of our

rules as superfluous redundancy and would be repugnant to the principle of selection of English Orders suitable  to local  use, upon which our rules appear clearly to be based and

when the draftsman has as we must again suppose, deliberately omitted the whole of 0.LV (55) dealing with chambers in the Chancery Division, we must, I hold, refuse to import any of

its rules on the ground that, to use the words of the conclusion of 0.LXV (65) r 2, they cannot "be conveniently applied

to the circumstances of this colony (Sierra L one)" (BRACKETS AND EMPHASIS PROVIDED)

 

In  addition  to  my  views  already  expressed,  I say  that  McDonnell  a. g.  J. was

entitled  to conclude,  and might  have  correctly  concluded,  that  rules  3 and 4 of

0.LV (55) of the English Rules of 1905 could not "be conveniently applied to the circumstances  of the colony  (Sierra  Leone)" (Brackets  provided)  but what if,  for

example,  on 7th  June  1990  and thereafter, they  could be conveniently  applied to

appropriately changed circumstances of the Republic of Sierra Leone? Notice  must be taken in that even in Re Parker it was noted that at a former sitting of the Full Court a contrary opinion to that in Re Parker was expressed on grounds not set forth on the record. Albeit, a contrary decision was given by the same Court and this, clearly, demonstrates an opening for other views  or  understanding of  the Order.

 

 

 

 

2,0

 

 

deliberately omitted those provisions of the English Rules that cannot "be conveniently applied" to the circumstances of the country

 

I am of the firm view that the position expounded in Re Parker. is different from the interpretation given to it by Muria, J.A by his extension of the reasoning to cover situations not in the context of the second reason given in Re Parker with significant repercussions.

 

In Re Parker, McDonnell, a.g. J., in his Judgment, was referring to Orders, specifically Order 55  of the English Rules of 1905 of which there was an attempt  to import rules 3 and 4 when the whole Order 55 was omitted by the draftsman in embodying a paraphrase of the White Book (the English Rules) into  our local Rules. This can be clearly discerned in the passage found in the judgment.  page 24, reproduced hereunder as follows:-

 

"Now the Legislature in approving our rule inserted in 0..L11 (52) a paraphrase of O.LIVA (54A) with the heading "DECLARATION ON ORIGINATING SUMMONS", it inserted in 0.L1 (51) a paraphrase of 0.LIV

(54)    with    its    heading    "APPLICATIONS    AND    PROCEEDINGS  AT

CHAMBERS" and omitted, I cannot but suppose deliberately, the whole of O.LV (55) with  its heading "CHAMBERS  IN  THE CHANCERY  DIVISION'.

which is subdivided into parts, of which Part II, beginning with r 3, has a sub-heading "Administration and Trusts; Foreclosure and Redemption' Why were some Orders included and others omitted."

(BRACKETS AND EMPHASIS PROVIDED)

 

 

It can be observed that the omission was of the whole of Order LV (55) of the English Rules of 1905 and that emphasis was placed on the procedure contained in the Order, that is, the procedure that  applied in English  Chancery  Chambers To buttress the point McDonnel proceeded further to state:

 

 

 

 

23

 

time the Davies Case was decided there was, as a matter  of fact, no provision in the English Rules for Conditional Appearance. In my view there Is provision for Conditional Appearance (and Appearance under Protest  in  respect  of Partnership and Admiralty actions) in our local rules through Order 52 Rule 3 by resorting to the English Rules of 1960, that is, rule 1 of Order 12.  It is no surprise  to me that Mr. Gooding, the Counsel who successfully argued in the Dakhlallah case that there was no provision in our rules for Conditional  Appearance  made  use of the English rule of Appearance under Protest which is in the same position as Conditional Appearance in relation to our local rules.  Senior  Counsel  have been making use of both procedures. All after the  decision  of  the  Dakhlallah easel

 

CONCLUSIVE VIEWS

Reflecting on the discourse above, I must now decide whether or not the Respondents rightly resorted to the English rules in their application by Mntion for Judgment in Default of Appearance in an action in Rem. In Order 1O of the Local High Court Rules of 1960, provisions are made for a party to obtain judgment in default of appearance.   Our  Order  10 (like the others)  is an  abridgment of Order

13 of the English Rules of 1960, which deals with proceedings in Default of Appearance. The draftsman, however, omitted rules12A and 13 of Order  13 of the English Rules 1960 in Order 10 of the local rules. For whatever  reason  the said rules were omitted, I am firmly of the opinion that these rules can be easily appropriately and conveniently applied by importation as there are no appropriate corresponding rules (that is, no other provision) in our local rules. and I so t1old Even though it is not challenged that one could resort to the  English Rules  of 1960 in respect of service of Writ of Summons in Admiralty Action in Rene. it is in order for me to express, and I hereby express the view and hold that  resort call be made to Order 9 rule12 of the English Rules of 1960. Order 6 of our  local  Rules is an abridgment of Order 9 of the English Rules of 1960, which deals with service of a Writ of Summons. Rule 12 of Order 9 was omitted by the draftsman like in the cited instances, when embodying the English Order in Order 6 of our

 

J(

22

 

In S.I.B.C. v Bisili, cited by Muria, J A. the High Court of the Solomon Islands had to consider the application of 0.71 of their High Court Rules of 1964 which is similar to our Order 52. The local rules of the Solomon Islands in Order 7 makes provision for a party to change his advocate but do not say how such can

withdraw his service in acting for a person. In that regard  the  Court  was  prepared to resort to 0.71 in order to resolve the problem or lacuna

 

I have looked at Order 62A of the White Book (the English Rules) of 1964 which deals with change of Solicitor by a party and withdrawal by a Solicitor of his/her representation of a party. One can reasonably assume that 0.7 of the Solomon Islands High Court is a paraphrase of 0.62A of the English Rules of 1964 or a corresponding Order of a later edition with omission of how a solicitor may  withdraw his/her representation. The High Court of the Solomon Islands certainly did not reject or refuse the importation of the relevant rule of the Englisl1 rules on the ground that omission of such rule of the relevant English Order in  the local rules by the draftsman on the basis that it "cannot 9e conveniently applied to the circumstances of the Solomon Islands unlike the decision in the B M Dakhlallah case, supra

 

In Order 9 of our local rules provision is made for appearance to originating processes but without rules for  entering  Conditional  Appearance  and Appearance under Protest. Order 9 is a paraphrase of Order 12 of the English Rules and it deals with Appearance including Conditional Appearance and Appearance under  Protest.  The situation in the B.M Dakhlallah  case.  in relation to the omission of a particular rule (or rules) of the relevant English Order. is a similar situation to that which existed in the Bisili case. Yet the two courts too different and opposing routes In my view, the Solomon Islands High  Court  took the right course.

 

In respect of the reference to the Davies Case, I agree that there is no power to enter Conditional Appearance where it is not provided for. It appears that at the

 

25

 

properly  considering  and evaluating  the oral and documentary evidence, if  I may add, substituting its own decision if it is warranted under its Jurisdiction and powers of review under rules 9 (1), 31 and 32 of the Court of Appeal Rules and Section 129 of the Constitution of Sierra Leone No,6 of 1991.

 

Mr. Gooding has cited several cases to buttress his argument  These  cases include The Glannibanta 1876 1PD p283 at  287;  Coghland  v  Cumberland (1898)1 CH,O, 704; Yuill v Yuill 1945 p,15 and at 19 and 20; Grace Shipping vs. C. F. Sharp 1987 LRC(Comm) 550 P,C, and the Nigerian case of Niger Benue Transport Co, Limited vs, Narumal and sons  1989  LRC  (Comm)  at  p 186  3rd para of the head note, The case of WATT (OR  THOMAS)  (1947)  p 582  at is587 is the classic case on the issue, Lord Thonkerton did not find rt  necessary  to review the decisions of the House of Lords because he was confident that the principle contained in that decision is simple, and he restated it thus.

 

"1, Where a question of fact has been tried by a Judge  without a jury and there is no question of misdirection of himself by

the Judge, an appellate Court which is disposed to come to a different conclusion on the printed evidence should  not  do  so unless it is satisfied that any advantage enjoyed by the trial

judge by reason of having seen and heard the witnesses could not be sufficient to explain or justify the trial judge's conclusion.

 

2, The appellate court may take the view that without having seen

or heard the witnesses, it is not in a position to come to any satisfactory conclusion on the printed evidence.

 

3, The appellate court, either because the reasons given by the trial judge are not satisfactory, or because it unmistakenly so

appears from the evidence, may be satisfied that he has not taken

 

24

 

local rules. Rule 12 of Order 9 of the English Rules can be  easily,  appropriately and conveniently be applied in proceedings in this jurisdiction

 

 

 

THE OBJECTIONS ON THE GROUND OF IRREGULARITY.

 

Objections, on the basis of irregularity, with the purpose of setting aside proceedings, must be raised on the face of the Motion and Summons as the case maybe. This is required by Order 50 Rule 3, which states

 

"3 Where an application is to set aside any proceedings for

irregularities, the several objections intended to be insisted upon shall be stated in the Summons or Notice of Motion."

 

The Appellants in the High Court raised several objections on irregularity relating to the service of the Writ of Summons stated in paragraph 1, and others to the procedure applied in obtaining judgment in default stated in paragraph 2 of  the Notice of Motion, reproduced at pages 3 - 4 of this Judgment. In my view. irregularities that were not raised on the face of the  Notice of  Motion  cannot  later be raised in the Court of Appeal or this Court unless the irregularity Is rooted in the issue of jurisdiction. If the alleged irregularity is such that it may deprive the Court jurisdiction, then the matter can be raised at the  appellate  stage.  I  will  now proceed to deal with arguments relating to the alleged irregularities

 

SERVICE OF THE AMENDED WRIT OF SUMMONS

 

 

 

 

 

 

The contention of Mr. Gooding, is that service of the amended Writ of Summons was not done in accordance with rule 12  of Order  9 of the English Rules  of 1960 in the light of both the oral and documentary evidence. Against  this background Mr. Gooding argues that the Court of Appeal misdirected itself, or was  wrong, when it dismissed the cross-appeal and upheld the High Court's decision that the service  of the  amended Writ of Summons was valid, or proper. without first

 

27

 

practice. The cross-examination also touched on other  matters  concerning  the amended Writ of Summons. The trial judge also heard the evidence of Mr. Edward Kamanda Bongay, the Under-Sheriff, called by the Appellant. He was cross-examined  by Mr. Renner-Thomas, Counsel for the Respondent.  The  trial judge  was  addressed by both Mr. Gooding and Mr. Renner-Thomas.

 

In his ruling of the 22nd April 1991, the trial Judge dealt with the evidences of both Mr Fynn and Mr. Bongay. He rejected the evidence of Mr. Bongay. As for the evidence of Mr. Fynn, the trial Judge acknowledged that it was sometimes confused under cross­ examination   but  made  clearer  under  re-examination. In the end, the trial Judge accepted the evidence of Mr. Fynn and rejected the claim that the service of the amended Writ of Summons was irregular. The learned trial Judge did explain why or gave reasons for rejecting the evidence of Mr. Bongay and accepting that of Mr. Fynn and, thus, the conclusion he reached.

 

The Court of Appeal having gone through all of that, it must  be assumed,  concluded that the manner the amended Writ of Summons was served, was a matter of fact. the determination of which, rested on the demeanour of and what was said by  the witnesses. The Court of  Appeal,  for this reasons, accepted  that  the  trial Judge had the advantage and, as a result, refused to disturb his conclusion.

 

Mr. Gooding's complaint is that the Court of Appeal reached the  decision  to  uphold  the trial Court's conclusion that the service of the amended Writ of  Summons  was  not  irregular, and thus resulting in  the  dismissal  of  the  cross-appeal,  without  first  carrying out a proper consideration and evaluation of the  evidence,  both  oral  and  documentary The Court of Appeal looked at the evidence and the ruling  by  the  trial Judge  and must have come to the conclusion that the issue was one of fact, the determination of whicl1 rested on beliefs; thus  leading  to  the decision  not  to  disturb  the  conclusion  of  t11e trial

.. Court on the basis  that  the  learned trial Judge  was  in a  better  position  in evaluating the evidence because he had the opportunity to see the witness, Mr. Fynn. and watch his demeanour.    In the limited circumstances  surrounding  the issue,  the answers and

 

y

 

26

 

proper advantage of his having seen and heard the witnesses. and the matter will then become at large for the appellate court ·

 

Lord Thonkerton added that:

"It is obvious that the value and importance of having seen and heard the witnesses will vary according to the class of case, and, it may be. the individual case in question"

 

Since the principle was re-stated by Lord Thankerton, Judges in countless  number  of cases have acted on, and, expressed the  principle  in  different  ways,  but,  invariably  within the confines of the principle as re-stated by  Lord Thankerton.  I  have  read  what have been cited in the authorities in respect of the issue and, in my view,  they  are consistent with the principle as  re-stated  by  Lord  Thankerton.  I  am  of  the  firm  view. and I do accept and hold, that the principle as re-slated by Lord Thankerton is the law. notwithstanding the  variant  expression  of  the  principle.  In  this  respect,  it  1s noteworthy, and must be borne in mind, that the principle :,vas applied by  the  Common  Law Courts before the case of WATT v THOMAS  and  that  Lord  Thankerton  did  not create the principle; he merely formulated or re-stated it. The Court of Appeal will not interfere or disturb  the  findings  of  fact by a trial court unless  such  findings  are unsound or perverse, or, to put in another way, no  trial  court  can  reasonably  be  expected  to  come to such findings or conclusion given the evidence.

 

The decision of the High Court as regards the service of the amended Writ of Summons is not unreasonable in the circumstances, and can be justified by the evidence. At the request of Mr. Gooding, Mr. Fynn, the Process Server, was made available for cross-examination. Under  cross-examination, he gave  evidence of how  he boarded the vessel "MV Mascho Star" accompanied by a custom officer  and  how he climbed up the mast and affixed thereon the amended Writ of Summons for a short time before coming down with it. He further gave evidence of affixing a copy of the amended Writ of Summons on the door of the Masters cabin and before leaving the vessel he had the Master sign the original Writ of Summons according to the usual

►

 

28

)!

 

 

demeanour  of  Mr.  Fynn,  in  relation  to  the  questions  under   cross-examination pertaining to the  service  of  the  amended  Writ  of  Summons,  are  of  the  utmost relevance on the  matter  or  perception  of  belief  or  disbelief.  In  my  view,  the treatment of the issue by the Court of Appeal (at page 99 of the MR) is, in the  circumstances. adequate. A trial Court ought to give reasons for its decision but  the  need  for  and the extent and dept of analysis of the evidence  must  necessarily  depend  on  the  case. Perhaps another panel or tribunal would have  treated  it  differently  but.  nonetheless,  rt was adequately dealt by the Court of Appeal

 

I conclude that Mr. Gooding by his complaint wanted an analysis and reasoning tl1at leads to the ineluctable conclusion, and not a state of  analysis  or  reasoning  that leaves much to inferences in reaching the conclusion. It must be noted that ordinarily Superior Courts ought to give reasons for their decisions and that generally involves revealing the thinking processes by which, or by stating the explanation of how, the decision is reached. Mr. Gooding invites the Court to  review  the  evidence  and  findings of the Court below relating to the service of the amended Writ of Summons. Notwithstanding what I have already said concerning the ruling of the  trial Judge  and the judgment of the Court of Appeal relating to the service of Writ of Summons. it is appropriate, if only to serve as guidance, to accept the invitation.

 

The evidence of Mr. Bongay was not much. It was rejected by the trial Judge in favour  of that of Mr. Fynn. The learned trial Judge, in my view, gave good  reasons  for rejecting Mr. Bongay's  evidence.   In addition, I am of the view that Mr. Bongay  did not

perform well under  cross-examination and, consequently,  his overall evidence  was not

helpful. He could not  recall  under cross-examination, talking  to Mr.  Renner-Thomas, of Counsel, about the matter (that is the amended Writ of  Summons  and its service); he could not recall instructing Mr. Fynn to serve a Writ of Summons in the matter; he might have signed a Warrant but he could not recall. However he conceded when shown the warrant with his signature. Not to recall is not to deny  a  fact.  and if one fails to recall a fact that one is expected to recall in given circumstances, it impinges

 

 

 

 

 

 

)t

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

...

 

29

 

on one's credibility. Mr. Bongay's evidence, in my view, did not  undermine  the  evidence of Mr. Fynn and, the trial Judge rightly, in my view, rejected his evidence.

 

The oral testimony of Mr. Fynn relating to the service of the  amended  Writ  of  Summons (see pages 64 and 65 of the MR) is coherent  and clear.  The substance  of his evidence under-cross examination is that he affixed, using cellotape the amended Writ of Summons on the main mast for a short time and then removed same He later affixed a copy of the amended Writ of Summons on the door of the Master's cabin and also had the captain sign the amended Writ of Summons as was the practice He categorically stated he served the ship and not the captain.  Paragraph  1  of  the Affidavit of Mr. Fynn of the 5th June 1990 (page 47 of the M.R) reflects this evidence contrary to the contention  of Mr. Gooding  (see pages 9 and 10 of M.R.)   The fact that  a copy of the amended Writ of Summons was affixed on the Master's office door  and that the amended Writ of Summons  was signed by the Master  does  not  detract  the fact that the amended Writ of Summons was affixed on the main mast for a short time before being removed. Again paragraph  2 of the  Affidavit  of Mr. Fynn  (at  page  6 of the SR.) does not conflict with  the oral evidence  of Mr. Fynn.  In fact.  it reflects  the  oral evidence that Mr. Fynn affixed the amended Writ of Summons on the mast of ship and that he had the same indorsed by the captain after its removal from the rnast by  him. Finally, Mr. Fynn left the ship, leaving a copy of the amended Writ of summons behind, affixed on the Master's office door. An acceptable explanation was given for having the Master sign the amended Writ of Summons.

 

The oral evidence of Mr. Fynn under cross-examination, which includes his answers to questions pertaining to the documentary evidence, was accepted by the learned trial Judge. In my view, he was entitled to do so, and the acceptance of the evidence was reasonable in the circumstances. II is another matter whether or not the accepted evidence amounted to service on the vessel "The MV Mascho Star". To answer the question one is to refer to Order 9 rule 12 of the English Rules of 1960. which is the relevant rule. and accepted as such, by both Counsel, is as follows

 

 

 

It 30

 

"In admiralty action in rem .service of a  writ  of  summons  or  warrant against a ship, freight, or cargo on board, is to be effected by na1l1ng or affixing the original writ or warrant for a short time on the main mast  or on the single mast of the vessel, and on taking off the process leaving a true copy of it nailed or fixed in its place".

 

Mr. Fynn did affix the amended Writ of Summons on the main mast. What he failed to do was affixing, in replacement of the removed amended Writ of Summons. a copy thereof on the main mast. A copy, instead, was affixed on the door of the Master's office.

 

In my considered opinion, the rule was materially and substantially  carried out. and for all intent and purposes, service was effected. Failure to replace the amended Writ of Summons with a copy does not in my view, detract or nullify the service or reduce the service to a non-service,  and is, therefore,  not fatal.  The essence  of  the service is the

affixing of the amended  Writ  of Summons  on the main mast  and not  the  replacement

'

of same with a copy.  It ·1s  for this  reason, I hold, that the trial Judge ought not to have

set aside the judgment in default of appearance.  I may  add by way  of distinguishing the two authorities  cited by  Mr. Gooding, namely: The Marie Constance  (1877)  3 ASP.

P. 505 and Prins Bernard (1963) volume 2 Lloyd's List  Law  Reports  page  236 from  the instant case. In both the Marie Constance and the Prins Bernard  cases.  the writ  was not affixed on the mast but in the instant case the writ was so affixed, albeit. for a short time; the essence of the service, as stated earlier, is the affixing of the amended Writ of Summons on the mast. In the two authorities cited there was in effect a non service of the Writ of Summons and, as a consequence, the court held in both cases  that there was no proper service. It is not the same situation in the instant case. here there was substantial and, in my view, effective service.  I  am  of  the  considered opinion that minor infraction of a rule does not necessarily  amount  to  non-compliance or a nullity: where there is substantial compliance, the scale ought  be  weighed  in favour of compliance even if it requires resorting. to Order 50 Rule 1 of the High Court Rules, 1960.

 

31

 

 

 

After closely reading the evidence of Mr. Fynn, I conclude that "the confusion" referred to by the learned trial Judge ln his ruling arose out of the issue of the nature of the Writ of Summons served. The "confusion" was apparently corrected under re-examination. What is clear to me, and accepted by Counsel, is that it was the amended Writ of Summons that was served. Mr. Gooding in his objections of irregularity in paragraph 1 on the face of the Notice of Matron repeatedly referred to the amended Writ of Summons as the document served. This fact is not denied by the Respondent I understand the Appellant to be raising objections of irregularity on the face of the Writ of Summons. and Mr. Gooding argues that these alleged irregularities detract the originality of the amended Writ of Summons or are indicative that the amended Writ of Summons served was not an original He submitted in his address at page 12 that the amended Writ of Summons, (Exhibit "EF 1" at page 1 of the S R ) is not the original Writ of Summons that was allegedly amended because -

 

(i) It was not tested by the original signature of the  Master  and Registrar as required by practice.

(ii) Amendment on the face of the writ was not sealed by the Court

(iii) The indorsed statement of claim was not signed by Counsel - only amendment dated and signed on the face of the writ of summons.

(iv) Amendments were not underlined in red ink on the face of the writ

 

 

These objections were not raised on the face of the Notice of Motion to set aside the ruling of the trial Judge (see pages 36-37 of the MR) in breach of Order  50  rule 3 of the High Court Rules and ought not be raised or  argued in the appeal  The same are not raised in the grounds of appeal or  the  particulars  of misdirection on errors in law. I am of the considered  view  that  these  objections do  not raise the issue of or touch on the jurisdiction of the Court Notwithstanding, I will deal with the points raised.

 

32

 

 

The signature of the Master and Registrar is clearly visible on the face of the amended Writ of Summons (Exhibit "EF 1" at page 1 of the SR.) at  the  very  bottom to cover the reference to the order  allowing  the  amendment.  The indorsed Statement of Claim was indeed signed by Counsel. The signature is clearly placed at the end of the amended indorsed statement  of claim.  Order 5  rule 3 of the High Court Rules states:

 

"3 Every writ of summons issued out of the Master's office shall be signed and sealed by the Master and such summons shall thereupon be deemed  to be issued.  Every  summons  shall bear the date of issue"

 

and clearly did not specify where on the face of the  Writ  of  Summons  the Master's signature should be placed. In practice, the signature of the  Master  comes immediately under the testing in the name of the Chief Justice  and the  date.  These requirements,  however,  only apply to the Writ  of Summons.  There is no complaint that the Writ of Summons did not meet these requirements. The Writ of Summons issued when it was signed and sealed. The Writ of Summons. intrinsically, continue to subsist, the amended Writ of Summons is not  fresh  or new, it merely amends the existing sealed Writ of Summons  and  it  meets  different requirements. In its proper place there is a printed  signature  of  the Master and Registrar on the amended Writ but the actual signature of the Mater and Registrar is given at the bottom.  The marks,  in the place  one usually  finds the seal, in the photocopy (Exhibit EF1) appears to be of the usual rubber stamp impression of the Court's seal.

 

The objection that the amendment on the face of the writ was not sealed by the Court is not tenable. Rule 8 of Order 24 of the High Court Rules only  requires  that:

 

"Whenever any endorsement or pleading is amended, the

 

If

 

 

 

same when amended shall be marked with the date of the order, if any, under  which  the same is  so amended,  and of the day on which such amendment is made, in the manner following, viz:

 

 

"Amended day of…..”

 

day of pursuant to Order of............ dated the

 

 

and this was duly complied with as apparent on the face of Exhibit 'EF  1" (see  page 1 of the SR). The amended Writ of Summons did not have  to be "resealed' (or sealed) as the Writ of Summons had already  been  sealed.  After all. the copy of the Writ of Summons with the "actual seal" is not the copy  that  is  usually served. It is a copy bearing a rubber stamp impression of the Courts seal that is normally served.

 

Even more significantly the objection has no basis. The objection relies on the English Rules of 1960, specifically Order  28 Rule 1 under the rubric  Amendment of the Writ by the Plaintiff. The rule called for an amended copy  of  the  writ showing the amendments in red and flied in the appropriate office. The amendments in red means that the amendments themselves should be in red ink which is different from merely underlining in red the amendments. The practice here, and it is not contended ii is the practice, may be to underline  the amendments in red but such is not in line with the rule.  Therefore  the objection  as it stands, fails. However, in my considered opinion, the omission of the rule or the practice of underling in red the amendments, even if applicable in the jurisdiction, is not a nullity but a mere irregularity which can be cured or waived pursuant to Order 50 Rule 1 of the High Court Rules.

 

THE CLAIM AND THE PROCEDURE APPLICABLE FOR JUDGMENT IN DEFAULT OF APPEARANCE IN REM.

 

35

 

 

 

(b) Must give sufficient particulars of the contract to disclose its nature.

 

 

It is the nature of the contract  on which the claim is based, as well as the fact that  a specific sum is claimed, which brings the claim or fails to bring it. within the definition. The words "debt" or "liquidated demand" do not extend to unliquidated damages, whether in tort or in contract, even though  the  amount  of  such damages be named at a definite figure (Knight v. Abbrott, 10 Q BO 11) ,. See the White Book 1960, Order 3 Rule 7 at pages 29-30. An example of a liquidated demand is a claim for a stated sum paid for a consideration that has failed Also. liquidated damages can be included in liquidated demand.

 

In the High Court Rules the words "pecuniary damages" in Order 10 rule 7

appear to have been used in place of unliquidated damages The conclusion is reached by comparison of Order 1O rule 7 of the High Court Rules with Order 13 rule 7 of the English Rules1960  which appears  to b  the source of Order  10 rule  7, and together with the inherent meaning within Order 10 rule 7. Order 1O rule 5  of the High Court Rules appear to have its source in Order 13 rule  5  of  the English Rules 1960. The source of Order 10 rule 11 of the High Court Rules appears to be Order 13 rule 12 of the English Rules  1960.  The authority  for  this is found in the Note under the contents of the High Court Rules 1960 in volume 7 page 126 of the Laws of Sierra Leone which states:

 

"Note - Following the practice in England. these Rules are printed  without  any revision of the serial numbers of the Orders or Rules.

Underneath most of the marginal notes are references (in italics and within brackets) to the corresponding rule of the Supreme Court Rules  of  England. These references are not part of the marginal note  and  are merely to indicate the English rule, which appears to be the source of the local rule (the two may or may not be identical in text) and thus to help the

 

34

 

The Plaintiffs claim has been variously described as "unliquidated amount" by the learned trial Judge and the Court of Appeal and "unliquidated demand" by Mr. Gooding. For good measure, Mr. Gooding adds that it is trite law that liquidated damages for which default judgment can be obtained without ascertainment of damages  by  the   Court  must  be  calculable  to  the last  cent. The pl1rases "unliquidated amount" and "unliquidated demand" are not used in the High Court Rules with particular reference to Order 10 or the English Rules with particular reference to Order 13, and I am of the view, that in the context of the claims in the amended Writ of Summons and the indorsed Statement of Claim. their applications  are  inappropriate and erroneous. The claims are grounded in contract and/or tort for damages; and notwithstanding the stated sum of US$ 469,500 in claim 1, the claim, in my view, is for unliquidated  damages Liquidated damages is defined as a genuine pre-estimate of damages agreed upon to be payable as damages in a certain eventuality, recoverable as a specified sum or money at a specified rate; or money recoverable under statute as damages. Such damages in neither case should amount to a penalty. See the White Book 1960, under Order 3 rule 7, at page 30. Unliquidated damages are the antithesis of liquidated damages. In the light of the definitions, relative to the pleadings, the claims can better be described as unliquidated damages. The understanding of the term "liquidated damages" proffered by Mr. Gooding, in the light of the definition given above, is erroneous.

 

In both the High Court Rules, with particular reference to Order 10.  and  the English Rules 1960, with particular reference to Orders 3 and 13. the phase "liquidated demand" is used. In the English Rules 1960 the phrase "debt or liquidated demand" is used. Clearly, debt and liquidated demand are being equated, or one is said to be in the nature of the other. For a claim on a contract

- to come within the definition "liquidated demand" it must:

(a) State the amount demanded or be so expressed that 'he ascertainment of the amount is a mere matter of calculation, and

 

-"

 

 

 

statement of claim if satisfied the Plaintiff's claim is well founded In cases wl1ere evidence is obviously needed to satisfy the Judge on the claim an  aff1ciavit  1n  support should be filed, although the court may require oral evidence  wl1etl1e1 affidavit evidence is filed or not pursuant to  Rule  1F  (b),  of  the  English  Rules 1960 under the caption: Limitation of evidence in Admiralty action. wh1cl1 states

 

"b - In default action in rem, evidence may, without any order or direction in that behalf, be given by affidavit'.

 

Out of caution, an evidential affidavit in support ought to be filed in all cases with tl1e motion for judgment in default of appearance in an action in rem. In another respect that rule 13 is different from rule 5 and 7 of Order 13 is that in rule 13. no distinction is made in the manner of obtaining judgment in respect of a "debt or liquidated demand" and 'unliquidated damages" In rules 5 and 7 interlocutory

judgment  is  entered  for  damages  to  be  assessed  In  respect  of  rule  13  the Judge pronounces on the claim  if satisfied  that  it  is well  founded  on  the basis  of the Statement of  Claim  and/or  affidavit  in  support  whether  the  claim  is unliquidated  or  not.  In  both rules  5 and 7  of Order  13 there  is no requirement  for  a Statement of Claim: it sufficient that the claim is endorsed  on  the  writ  of  Summons, and this, perhaps, explains the need for an interlocutory judgment for damages  to  be  assessed  (or in respect  of the  local   rules  a  Writ  of  Inquiry  is  to

issue for assessment of the damages.)

 

 

Now since rules 5, 7 and 11 of Order 10 of High Court Rules 1960 correspond to rules 5, 7 and 12 respectively of the English Rules 1960, and yet it was found necessary  to have  rules  12A and 13 of Order  13. it follows.  in my view.  that the

situations in rules 5 and 7 are different from the situation in rules 12 and 13 and that it was necessary to import rules 12'1 and 13 of the English Rules  1960 to  meet the situation in their contemplation pursuant to Order 52 rule 3 of the High Court  Rules  of  1960.   In  my  view,  the Respondents  are right in  the procedure

 

36

 

reader trace, through the White Book, such cases as may assist in the interpretation of the local rule".

 

Our High Court Rules 1960 are an abridgement of the English Rules 1960.

 

 

I observe that both rules 5 and 7 of Order 13 of the English Rules 1960. like the respective corresponding rules 5 and 7 of the High Court Rules. speak specifically of entering interlocutory judgment in respect of certain claims for damages to be assessed; in respect of our local rules a Writ of Inquiry is to issue for assessment of the damages, etc. As for rule 11 of Order 10 the wording is virtually the same as rule 12 of Order 13 of the English Rules 1960. Notwithstanding rules 5, 7 and 11 of Order 13 of the English Rules 1960. provisions are made in rule 12A and 13 specifically for Admiralty Actions in rem in respect of default of appearance.

 

The question that begs for an answer is why was it necessary to have rules 12A  and 13 of Order 13 in the face of rules 5 and 7? Clearly the answer is that the situation in an Admiralty Action in rem is different from the general situations that Rules 5 and 7 of Order 13 of the English Rules 1960 have in contemplation In Rules 12A and 13 of Order 13 the procedural and evidential requirements are different from that of rules 5 and 7; and again in the respect of rule 13 it  is the Judge that pronounces for the claim in a judgment upon filing of the requisite documents, pursuant to rule 12A, namely:

 

(a} A proper affidavit of service. (b} A statement of claim and

(c} A certificate of non-appearance

 

 

Compliance with these formalities entitled the Plaintiff to judgment and.  as  a result, the case is set down for judgment in default and not for trial as contended  by Mr. Gooding. The Judge may then pronounce judgment on the basis or the

 

 

 

 

 

,I.

 

38

 

they adopted and that they had complied  with  all  the  requisite  formalities pursuant to rules 12A and13 of Order 13 of the English Rules 1960.

 

I do recognise that in years of yore compliance with procedural rules was a matter of strictissimi juris, and particularly so in a situation where, a plaintiff proceeds by default. See Hamp-Adams v. Hall [1911] K.8.D. 942. However. in more recent years, there has been a gradual development and a tendency in judges, not to treat all such rules with absolutely strict interpretation, especially, in situations where a strict application of a rule would result in gross injustice this is in stark contrast to situations were good sense and justice had oftei1 been sacrificed on the alter of strict adherence to technicalities and procedural rules

 

Order 70 of the English Rules 1960 is ipsissima verba to order  50 of  our  High Court Rules 1960 under the caption: EFFECT OF  NON  COMPLIANCE:  except that rule 4 in our local rules used to exist in the  English  Rules  until  it  was  annulled in 1959. Order 70 was a device for dealing_ with the harsh effects of the concept of 'procedural nullity' as distinct from "mere irregularity" but it  was  not equal to the task. See the White Book 1999 Order 2 para:21012.  page 9  In my view, it did not measure up to the task because of the strict  interpretation given  it by the Judges continuing adherence to a strict distinction between what they regarded as procedural nullities and mere irregularities. The problem was amply demonstrated in the case of Re Pritchard [1963] ch.502 C.A. In  this  case.  the Court had a fresh opportunity of giving the English Order 70 a more liberal interpretation by following the dissenting view of Lord Denning MR,  thus blurring  the distinction between procedural nullity as distinct from mere irregularity and thereby furthering the cause of justice.  It  was as  a result  of the  dissatisfaction with the decision of Re Pristchard that in 1964 the order, particularly rule 1, was amended and re-stated in the light of the decision.

 

In my view, rule 1 of Order 50 of the local High Court Rules of 1960 is broadly stated, and I see no obstacles in giving it a liberal interpretation so as to eliminate

 

(

 

39

 

the judge made rule of making strict distinction between a nullity and irregularity. thus, allowing the Court to make decisions on compliance of procedural  rules based on the justice of the individual case and circumstances while leaving intact fundamental failures that are rooted in basic principles of law rather than a requirement of the rules. At this point, let me say that if I were disposed  to hold  the alleged irregularities in the instant case as irregularities, I would, without hesitation, cure them under rule 1 of Order 50, even that which deals with the service of the amended  Writ  of Summons.  Such  an application  would be similar to the exercise of the court's discretion under Order 2 Rule 1 of the English Rules (Order 2 replaces Order 70) in the case of Golden Ocean Assurance Limited and World Marines Shipping S.A. vs. Martin, the  Golden  Mariner  (1990]  2  Lloyd's Rep. 215 where there  was defective  service  of proceedings  but since  existence of the proceedings were known to the Defendant, the  defective  service  was treated  as a mere irregularity  that  could be cured by the Court  by  the  exercise of discretion  under  Order  2 Rule  1.   See  also  Fielding  v. Rigay  (1993]  4  All E R 294.   In the present  case,  the  evidence  clearly  shows  that  the  Appellants  were aware of the action in the High Court. See paragraphs 5, 6 and 1O of the said affidavit of Ade Renner-Thomas in support of the application for judgment  in default of appearance at pages 37-59 of the S.R.

 

 

 

THE AWARD OF DAMAGES IN FOREIGN CURERNCY

It is not in contention that our Courts can pronounce  judgment  and  award damages in foreign currency. In the case of Castro! Limited vs. John Michael Motors Limited S.C. Civ.App.No.1/1998 _(unreported) at page 25, this court in the judgment delivered by Renner-Thomas C.J. decided to address the fundamental question of whether our courts do have the jurisdiction  to pronounce  a  judgment in foreign currency. After researching relevant statutes and precedents without a definitive answer, the learned Chief Justice resorted to English case law which before the republican status of Sierra Leone was of binding authority in this jurisdiction. After reviewing the relevant English authorities or cases, the learned

 

1\

40

 

Chief Justice, at page 28 of the judgment, adopted the reasoning of Lord Wilberforce in the House of Lords' case of Miliangos v George Frank (Textiles) Limited (1975] 3 All E.R 801 H.L.(E) in his determination whether any fresh consideration of any substance had  emerged  since  1961  which  should  induce the House of Lords to follow a different rule from that laid down in the case of the United Railways of the Havana and Regla Warehouses  Limited  (1960]2  All E R 332 concluded in these words

 

· "The law on the topic is judge made; it has been built up over the years from cases to case. It is entirely within the

Houses duty, in the course of administering  justice,  to give the law a new direction in a particular case, where, on principle and in Reason, it appears right to do so, I cannot accept the suggestion that because a rule is long established only legislation

can change it- that may be so when the rule is so deeply entrenched and that it has infected the whole legal system, or the choice of a new rule involves more far-reaching research than courts can carry out."

 

As far as I can discern there was no categoric answer to the question that the learned Chief Justice set out to address but I conclude that implicit in the discourse and the House's decision in the Miliangos case his answer to the question was in the affirmative.

 

The learned Chief Justice in the Castro! case acknowledged that Courts in this jurisdiction had frequently applied the principles laid down by Lord Wilberforce  in the case of Services Europe Atlant"1que Sud. (SEAS) v Stockholms Rederiartiebolag SVEA - [1979] 1 All E.R. 421 (referred to as: The Folias) a:1d re-stated by Lord Goff in the case of Ghana National Petroleum Corporation vs Texaco overseas Tankships Limited 1974 1 Lloyds Law Report  p472 (referred  to as The Texaco Melbourne) as follows:

 

 

 

41

 

 

 

"First, it is necessary to ascertain  whether  there is an intention. to be derived from the terms of the contract, that damages for breach of contract should be awarded in any particular currency or currencies.

In the absence of such an intention the damages should be calculated in the currency in which the loss was felt by the Plaintiff or which must truly expresses his loss .,

 

in pronouncing judgments in cases, such as those for the recovery of rents or mesne profits expressed in foreign currency. Recently this Court. in the case of National Insurance Company Ltd v   Mohson Tarra!   Civ. App No 1/2004 (unreported) affirmed the judgment of the High Court in its award of damages in foreign currency It is now clear that our Courts can pronounce Judgment awards in foreign currency upon those principles expressed by Lord Goff and approved  and adopted by the Court in the Castrol case.

 

However, the contention of Mr. Gooding is not that the Courts cannot pronounce judgment in foreign currency but  that  if  the evidence  is  that  the  loss  is  sustained in Sierra Leone then the loss must be computed and awarded in Leones. This contention is not sustainable in the face  of  the  principles  laid  down  in  the Folias and restated by Lord Goff in the Texaco  Melbourne  and  adopted  by  this  court  in the Castrol  case.  The  contention  may  be valid  if in  relation  to  the  circumstances of this case the application of the said principles do  not  lead  to  t11e  conclusion that there is an intention that damages should  be awarded  in  foreign  currency  or that the loss  was  felt  in  foreign  currency.  This  necessarily  leads  to  an examination of the facts to determine the issue.

 

I accept the submission of Mr. Gooding that the Plaintiffs were the owners or entitled to the consignment of rice that was shipped on the "MV Mascho Star

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

42

 

Paragraph 3 of the Statement of Claim indorsed on the amended  Writ  of Summons which states:

 

"3 The Plaintiffs are and were at all material times the owners of the goods and/or holders of the said bill of lading."

 

lends support to Mr. Gooding's submission, and in the  face  of  the  said paragraph, the submissions of Mr. Yada Williams, of Counsel. that tends to contradict the said paragraph, cannot be accepted  by the Court.  Further. the fact in issue is not the transfer of the bill of lading to the Sierra Investment and Development Holdings Limited (the 2nd Respondent herein) but the endorsement of  the  bill  of  lading  by  Richabs  (the  1s  1 Respondent  herein)  to  them.    Having regard to the said paragraph, the submission of Mr. Gooding, and for  the  purposes of this judgment, I need not delve into the law relating to the transfer and/or endorsement of a bill of lading.

 

Mr. Gooding contends that since the 2nd Respondent is a Sierra  Leonean Company doing business in Sierra Leone and share  the  same address  with the 1st   Respondent,   the   currency   of   business   of  the   2nd  Respondent   must be

presumed to be in Leones in the absence of evidence of trading in US Dollars currency. As regards the 1st Respondent, he argues that  there  is  no documentary  evidence  of the place of business of the 1st Respondent  and. since

there  is  no  specific  country  or  currency  attachable  to  the 1st  Respondent,  the Court should assume that the 1st  Respondent  is a local company  doing business in Sierra Leone. The address referred to by Mr. Gooding, I conclude on the basis  of the record, is the address, 10 Charlotte Street, Freetown, given as the address

of  the 1st  and  2nd  Respondents  is  the  address  of  the  firm  of  Solicitors,  Renner­

Thomas and Co., who represented the 1st and 2nd Respondents in the Courts below.   Clearly the address  was given as address of the 1st  and 2nd  Respondents by their solicitors  for the purposes of the suit.  The indications  are that the place  of  business   of  the  1st  Respondent   is  40  Rue  De  Rhone.  1211   Geneva 11,

 

14-

 

)r

43

 

Switzerland, as evidenced in the bill of lading and the fax copy exhibited as "ART 1" and ART 7" respectively to the Affidavit of Ade Renner-Thomas. Solicitor. sworn on the 6th day of June 1990 at Freetown. Based on these indicators. it is more realistic for the Court to conclude, and I so do, that the place of business of the 1 st Respondent is at Geneva, Switzerland, than to assume. without any acceptable basis, that the 1st Respondent is a Sierra Leonean Company doing business in Sierra Leone.

 

The Charter-Party was executed in London 31/1/90 - see the bill of lading. The shippers also carry out their business in London. The port of loading is Qasin 1n Parkistan and the bill of lading was also issued at Karachi in Pakistan. In my view, the transactions have the hallmarks of international trade or business. The Court, in my considered opinion, is in the position to take judicial notice, that by and large, international trade was at that time, and perhaps even now. generally conducted in US Dollar currency and, certainly, not in Leones. Even if it is assumed that the importer was doing business in Sierra Leone. the international side of the transactions would have been agreed in and paid for in foreign currency even if it means purchasing same with Leones. In this case it appears from the documents in evidence that the consignment was being exported to

 

Sierra Leone by the 1st Respondent doing business in Geneva, Switzerland

 

Both parties to the Charter-Party, it appears, reside, and conducted the business of the Charter from outside Sierra Leone. In the circumstances. I can only conclude that the intention of the Parties to the Charter Party was that damages arising out of the Charter Party were to be paid in foreign currency, and not 1n Leones. I am of the view that the 1st Respondent loss was felt also in foreign currency.

 

At this juncture, it is important to make reference  to the quotation by Mr. Gooding of the words of Lord Goff at page 479 in the Texaco  Melbourne  case  which  are as follows:-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I

!

 

I

 

 

44

 

 

'It has long been established that. in claims by a goods owner against

a carrier for non-delivery of the goods, the damages recoverable by the goods owner are such as will put him into the position he would have been  in if the goods had been duly delivered and are therefore the value of the goods at the time which, and the place where they should have been delivered."

 

This quotation goes to the issue of the quantum of damages and  how  the damages recoverable in the given and similar situations are quantified It is not a yardstick, and does not help in determining whether a court can pronounce judgment, in a given situation, in a foreign currency or not; and more directly. whether the court, in the instant case, can do so  or  not.  The  question  is in relation to the principle of restitutio ad integrum. The question of the quantum of damages was taken into account in paragraph 8 of the affidavit of Ade Renner­ Thomas in support of the application for judgment in  default  of appearance  and the invoice exhibited thereto as "ART5".  This question,  however,  does  not appear to be and, in my view, is not, an issue in this appeal

 

In the instant case and that of the Mohson Taraff case, the plaintiff claimed in foreign currency and the claims, as such, met the said principles (or criteria; restated by Lord Goff in the Texaco Melbourne case; and the Courts rightly pronounced their respective judgment in foreign currency. However. it is significant, for our jurisprudential clarity, to consider the situation in the context of the instant case, on the assumption that the claim in foreign currency is not consistent with the said principles. On that assumption, the instant case would be in the same or similar context as the Castro! case, and the claim, following the Castro! case, a decision of this Court, would be converted in Leones and the judgment pronounced in Leones. Of course if the claim is not proven there would not be a pronouncement in either a foreign currency or in Leones; the claim would simply fail.

 

45

 

In a situation where a claim in  a  foreign  currency  is  justified  or,  for  that  matter where a claim is in Leones,  the  matter  is  straight  forward  and  the  court  is  not  faced with any  problem  in pronouncing  judgment  in  the  foreign  currency  claimed or in  the  Leones  claimed,  respectively,  but  the  court  in  the  Castrol  case was faced  with a problem in  that  the foreign  currency  claim could  not  be Justified  as  ,t did not comply with the said principles re-stated  by  Lord  Goff  in  the  Texaco Melbourne  case,  and therefore the Court could not pronounce Judgment in the foreign   currency   claimed. The court was faced with the dilemma of either dismissing the claim  or  doing  justice  to  the  plaintiffs  proven  rights  by  employing its  powers  in  converting   the  proven  foreign  currency   amount   into  Leones. The Court, in my considered  view,  was  right  both  in  law  and  in  doing  substantial  justice by converting the material foreign currency, that  is  pounds  sterling,  into Leones, and I so hold. The court was faced with the dilemma in the Castrol case and had to make the decision it did.  However, litigants by their Lawyers should take a cue from the outcome of the case, and in future frame their cases , in a

manner which would take into account that there could be a failure in Justifying a pronouncement of a judgment in the foreign currency claimed. In my  view,  this can easily be done by claiming in the alternative the equivalent of the foreign currency in Leones at a rate of exchange plus interest thereon at the appropriate rate and period.

 

At this juncture, let me add a note of advice to Counsel and litigants by quoting once more Bristow J in the Miliangos case (pages 496 - 497) thus

 

"In future no doubt, where a plaintiff seeks his Judgment in foreign currency, both parties will be prepared at the trial with the necessary evidence to deal with the question of interest."

 

Obtaining such evidence should not present too much difficulties in view cf the phenomenal expansion of international business and trade in wl1ich banks including our local banks, are integral parts or players, and invariably play

 

11

 

significant roles in facilitating such international  trade  or  transactions.  In  my  view, expert evidence of interest in foreign currencies, can  easily  be obtained  from the relevant bank official either orally, by serving a witness summons to the bank or the relevant official, or, by affidavit, as the circumstances require

 

THE AWARD AND INTEREST ON THE AWARD

 

 

Mr. Gooding has made significant submissions in relation to awards given  in foreign currency claim and interest thereon. In reference to Castrol the case, he submits:

 

"With respect that judgment is per incuriam since the Court had no jurisdiction to convert the foreign currency claim

to Leone currency and fix rate of exchange and award interest thereby amending the Plaintiffs pleading by converting the claim without application to the  Court  to amend  the  tatement  of Claim. With the greatest respect the Court has no statutory authority to make such an award. The power of the Court

to award interest is derived from S.4 of cap 19 and such power surely relate to local currency. A retrospective

interpretation of the Court's statutory power 36 years before the Miliangos to give it authority to award interest

indirectly cannot be good law."

 

 

Before the Miliangos case, the English Courts (and other Courts practicing the common law) for centuries refused to pronounce  judgments  in foreign  currency or, in other words, only did so in English Pounds Sterling. The  position  ·n  the case of Re un·1ted Railways of the Havana And Regla Wc1rehouses L1rrntecl [1960] 2 All E.R. 332, found clear expression, by Viscount Simmonds, in these words:

 

47

 

"It is established by authority binding to this House, that a claim for damages for breach of contract must be converted into Sterling at the date of breach or tortuous act.·

 

And Lord Denning in the same Havana case was even more emphatic 111 the following words:

 

"And if there is one thing more clear in our law, it is that a claim must be made in Sterling and the judgment given in Sterling·

 

In the Havana case both Lord Reid and Lord Denning were of the view  that  the rule was "primarily procedural". The rule was judge made and when the circumstances  changed,  as was  apparently  the case in  the Schorsch  Case  that

the  Court  was  of  the  mind  that  it  was  at  liberty  to  discard  the  rule  on  the  basis

that reasons for the rule which informed the decision in the  Havana  case  have  ceased to exist. Finally, in the Miliangos case, the House of Lords confirmed the discardment of the rule and, thenceforth. the English Courts could and did pronounce judgments in foreign currency.

 

However, it must  be  recognised  and  cognizance  taken  of  the  fact  that  what  the Courts discarded was the Judge made  rule  that  the  English  Courts  can  011ly pronounce judgment in  Sterling.  The  Courts  thereby  permitting  themselves  to pronounce  judgments   in   foreign  currency   The  discardment   of   the   rule  obviously did  not  mean  that  the  English  Courts  could  not  and  did  not  pronounce  or  continue to pronounce judgments in Sterling In effect.  the  discardment  meant  the  English Courts  continued  to  pronounce  judgments  in  Sterling   and,   where   appropriate   in the  relevant  foreign  currency.   In  my  considered   view,  our   courts   have   the  same or similar jurisdiction to continue to pronounce judgments in Leones.  the  nations currency, and. where justified, in the appropriate foreign currency

 

-l8

 

 

A vital and crucial question raised by Mr. Gooding s submissions Is whether the Supreme Court has the jurisdiction to convert the foreign currency to Leone currency as it did in the Castrol case (and fix the rate of exchange and award interest) thereby, in effect, amending the Statement of Claim without any  application to the Court to amend. In the submission, Mr.  Gooding  also argues  that this Court has no statutory authority to make the award it gave in the Castrol case. Rule 1 of Order 24 of the High Court Rules which reads

 

"The Court may at any stage of the proceedings, allow either party to alter or amend his endorsement on  pleadings,  in such manner and on such terms as may be just, and all such amendments shall be made as may be necessary for the purpose of determining the real questions in controversy between the parties (Emphasis provided)

 

is ipssissima verba of rule 1 of Order 28 of the English Rules 1960 The English Order (see page 621) under the rubric scope  of  the  order  -  includes amendments which the Judge or Master may think right to make  of  his  own motion in order to determine the real questions in  controversy  between  the parties. The explanation goes further to state that every Judge of the High Court and also of the Court of Appeal (See 0.58, rule 9) has power to amend the proceedings before him whether he is asked by the parties to do so or not (see Nottage v Jackson 11 QB D 627, 638) but it is not the duty of the Court to force upon them amendments for which they do not ask (per Fry  L J  In Cropper  v Smith. 26 Ch. D, p.715). The Supreme Court. under the Supreme Court Rules 1982, is not specifically given these powers  but  such powers  are bestowed  on the Supreme Court by virtue of the provisions of subsection (3) of Section 177 o'

the Constitution, 1991, which provides

1'

 

 

"(3) For the purposes (SIC) the hearing and determining any matter within its jurisdiction and the amendment. execution or

 

49

 

the enforcement of any judgment or order made on any such matter, and for the purposes of any other

authority, expressly or by necessary implication given to it, the Supreme Court shall have all the powers, authority and

jurisdiction vested on any court established by the Constitution or any other law."

 

The Court of Appeal is given wide powers in conducting appeals, but,  with particular reference to the issue at hand, is the provision of subsection (3)  of Section 129 of the Constitution 1991 which confers on the Court of Appeal the powers, authority and jurisdiction vested in the Court from which the Appeal is brought. This clearly gives the Court of Appeal the powers of the High Court as provided for in rule 1 of Order 24 of our High Court Rules. Clearly, the Supreme Court, therefore, has the power to amend, suo moto, directly or indirectly by necessary  implication,  as it obviously  did in the Castro! case.   The powers  of the

Supreme Court in this regard is further buttressed by sub-rule 2 of rule 5 of the

•

Supreme  Court  Rules,  1982,  which empowers  the Court  to  prescribe by means

of practice direction such as in  the opinion  of the Court  the justice of the appeal  or application may require. Granted there is no practice direction on the point in issue. Amendment "at any stage of the proceedings" has been interpreted to include  amendments  after  judgment  and  on appeal. In the case of Pearlman (Veneers)  S.A. (Ply) Limited v Bernhard Bartels (1954)  1  W.LR  1457  C.A where the Plaintiff had obtained judgment, the Court held that  there  was jurisdiction to amend the proceedings including the judgment to describe the defendant as Josef Bartels, trading Bernard Bartels, on the ground ti1at tl1er., l1ad been simply a misdescription. But after  final decree  or  judgment,  the Judge of first instance cannot, or at all events, will not amend the pleadings or add new parties (A.G v Birmingham, 15 Ch.D. 423: Durham v Robertson [1898]  1  QB p.774). See the White Book 1960at pages 625-626.

 

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The Court's power to grant interest is grounded in statutory provisions which includes sections176 and 177 of the  Constitution,  1991,  which,  respectively define and permit the application of the existing section 4 of the Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1960 of Cap 19, which has already  been reproduced   above,   and   the   Judgments Act,  1838. The statutory provision directly in point is Section 4 of the Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1960 of Cap 19. which empowers a court of record to award interest on a Judgment sum"at such rate as it thinks fit on the whole or any part of the debt or damages for the whole or any part of the period between  the  date  when  the cause  of action  arose and the date of judgment." Ground 6 of the Appeal, which relates  to  this  point,  has  graciously  been  conceded  by  Mr.  Yada  Williams of Counsel, for the Respondents.

 

However there is left the further submission  of  Mr.  Gooding  that  if  i11te1est  is claimed on a debt or damages expressed in foreign currency,  the  plaintiff  must adduce   expert    evidence    of   the   rate  of   interes.t at which a perso11 ccu:c! reasonably   have  borrowed  the foreign  currency I agree with the submIss1011 but would add that the Court, in my  view,  will only  take  into  account  the  evidence  of the lending rate on the foreign currency if the  claim in  foreign  currency  Is Juslifiecl that is to say,  the  Plaintiff  has  shown  that  he is entitled  to  be  awarded  Iudgr11e11t In the foreign currency. In the  National  Insurance  case  a  Judgment  award  ,n foreign currency was justified but because there was no expert evidence  of  the  lending rate of interest on the foreign currency that was in issue the  court  did  not grant interest. The  Court  could have  ordered  further  inquiry  to determine  the  rate of interest but refrained from doing so for the reason stated in the  judgment.  The instant case is in the same position as the National Insurance case. the claim in  foreign  currency  is  justified  but  no  evidence  of  the  lending  rate  on the foreign currency has been given.  The question whether  to order further  inquiry  or not  will  be dealt with later.

 

FIXING A HIGHER RATE OF INTEREST THAN THAT PRAYED FOR

 

 

 

 

 

The Court is not Father Christmas and does not grant what is not  prayed  'or  unless ancillary to the relief prayed. Therefore the Court ought not grant a higher rate of interest than that prayed for It can grant interest at a rate lesser than that pleaded or prayed for The Court can under Section 4 subsection 1 of the Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1960.give interest on the adjudged sum whether  or  not interest  is pleaded  or prayed for In an Admiralty Action in rem upon default of appearance and after the filing of the requisite documents the  matter comes before the Judge; he will require the Plaintiff to satisfy him that the claim is well founded on the basis of the requisite  documents  filed  and  by  affidavit evidence unless the Judge otherwise ordered,  for  instance.  calling  for oral evidence. This in my view. is different from signing for Judgment ,n which case, the matter is not placed before the Judge to be satisfied  that  the claim  is well founded In the former situation. it is the Judge that pronounce Judgment and, in doing so, may award interest on the adjudged  sum whether  or not interest is prayed for.

 

COSTS IN FOREIGN CURRENCIES

The substance of Mr. Yada Williams's submission, in my mind. 1s that i11 this jurisdiction solicitors' costs have always been taxed or agreed upon (or assessed by court) in foreign currencies, and since the practice, in his view. has been established over the years and has become so deeply entrenched that it affects  the whole legal system, therefore, the practice must be allowed to continue  and can only be changed by legislation In support, he quoted the dictum of Lord Wilberforce in the case of the Miliangos [1976]  AC  443 at 469 before  the House of Lords as follows:-

 

··The law on this topic is Judge made; it has been built up over the years from case  to case.  It is entirely  within  the Houses  duty  1n the course  of  administering  justice,  to give the law a new  direction in a particular case, where, on principle it appears right to do so

 

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I cannot accept the suggestion that because a rule is long established only legislation can change it - that may be so when the rule is so deeply entrenched that it has infected the whole legal system, or the choice of a new rule involves more far reaching research than courts can carry out."

 

 

 

Firstly it does not appear to me that the alleged rule or practice is indeed a rule or practice in this jurisdiction, not to speak of it being a long established rule or practice. Secondly, it is my view that the said rule or practice is not entrenched and, certainly, does not permeate or infect the whole legal system In the dictum cited, Lord Wilberforce said the words in connection with the English judge made law relating to the rule or practice by the English courts not to pronounce judgment in foreign currency, a rule or practice that spanned centuries before the House of Lords changed it in the Miliangos case; it is in the context of the quotation that the historical rule or practice was. changed and given a new direction.

 

In support of his submission, Mr. Yada Williams has quoted two local cases, namely, Abdul Hamed and Sons v. Patbel Limited and Another CC 470/88 H. No

19 (unreported) and Ibrahim Bazzy and Sons (a firm) v. The Owners  and/or persons interested in The Vessel "The Santiago De Cuba" of suit No.CC 467/96 (Unreported)  in relation  to  solicitor's  costs in foreign currency. Let me first deal with  the  Ibrahim Bazzy case. The judgment of the case was by consent. The courts hardly ever disagree when the parties to a suit come to an agreement and request the court to give effect to such an agreement by making it the courts judgment,  that  is,  by   the  consent  of the parties. In my view, such consent judgment cannot be rightly quoted as supporting  a  principle  of law  or practice The Abdul Hamed case was a High Court matter but a point of the judgment is detailed and relevant to the issue herein. Essentially, I agree  with  the views  of the learned Judge, S.A. Ademosu J (as he then was) on the points so well

 

 

 

expressed in pages 109-112 of the judgment with particular  reference  to  the points encapsulated in his following words.

 

"It is my view that to tax according to the Laws of Sierra Leone would mean taxing in the national currency of Sierra Leone and not in any currency foreign to the country especially for work done in Sierra Leone where expense in foreign currency is

not involved like in the instant case. It is also my view that the bill of costs that should be presented  by  the  solicitor for taxation should also call for Leones and that the question or of working out its equivalent in a foreign currency should not arise because the predominant

aim of the solicitor should be to receive a fair and reasonable remuneration for the work he has done in Sierra Leone  for  a Litigant in Sierra Leone. It is for all the above reasons I

have come to the conclusion  and with the greatest  respect to both the solicitor and the Taxing Master that it is improper to present a bill of costs in foreign currency as it  was  done in the instant case..

 

I respectfully agree with Amissah.J.A. in Guardian Assurance Co. Ltd v. Khayat Trading Stores (1972)2 G.L.R. 48 that it was wrong to assess costs on the amount of damages recovered The determining factor should be the nature of the work done and the amount of the work done"

 

Notwithstanding, I like to add a few remarks. The scale of fees payable in the High Court and fees payable to solicitors expressed in the Appendices to the High Court Rules 1960 as amended by 4ofP N 41/69, are in Leones, or otherwise expected to be payable in Leones. Generally, costs are in the discretion of the Court (or the Taxing Master) and in considering the quantum

 

 

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of the cost, the Court (or the Taxing Master) must take into account the amount of work done, the complexity of the case and the experience of the solicitor; and these normally should bear a relationship to the trial and its incidents. In cases where certain expenses are incurred in foreign currency, and their expenditure in foreign currency can and are justified, the Court (or Taxing Master), in my view, can take same into account at the appropriate rate of exchange (or the rate of exchange at the time of payment) depending on the circumstances. All of the discourse on the issue, must be viewed in the context of the meaning of a bill of costs which is defined in Wharton's Law Lexicon, 14th edition, at page 978, as follows:

 

"an account of the charges and disbursements  of an attorney or solicitor incurred in the conduct of his client's business. It is an account of fees, charges  and disbursements  by a solicitor in a legal business".

 

A bill of costs for taxation ought to be prepared and presented  in Leones. Where at the conclusion of the trial the judge hearing the case makes an immediate assessment, he should do so in Leones on the basis of  factors herein before stated.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

....

 

It is worth noting that although the question of costs is in the discretion of the  Judge, the general rule is that costs follow the event,  that  is,  the  winner  is  entitled to be paid the costs he incurred in  the  litigation  by  the  loser unless there are special reasons for  the  court  to  order  otherwise.  The  fees  that  c1 party pays  his  solicitor  (or  counsel)  is  by  agreement  between  the  party  and his solicitor, and  does  not involve  the  opposing  party.  In  that  regard,  it  must be borne in mind  that taxed  or assessed  costs  do  not indemnify  the winner  for all the costs he has  paid  or  will  have  to  pay  his  solicitor.  The  reason  being that the loser pays to  the winner  costs  taxed  by  the Taxing  Master  on a  'party to party basis" (see Order 56 rule 28(24) of the High Court Rules 1960)

 

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covering only the essential costs of the litigation whilst the winner will have to pay his solicitor fees calculated on "a solicitor and own client basis" in which he can be charged for all the work done unless he can show his solicitor wJs acting unreasonably.

 

In the instant case, the judge ought  to have awarded costs in Leones  and not in a foreign currency even though there was no Defendant  present  to challenge the Plaintiffs' (Respondents herein) prayers for the costs in foreign currency, namely, United States of America Dollars. It must be borne in mind that in an uncontested trial or hearing, the trial judge (or  court)  should  not allow himself or herself being lulled by the absence of opposition not to ask to be satisfied or satisfying himself of the rightness  or  propriety  of the demands or alleged facts. This case is different  from cases  where  the parties come to an agreement and request the court for a consent Judgments; a consent Judgment is different from a Judgment in Default of Appearance, and require different approaches by the Judge (or Court).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

...

 

The reality is that the trial judge had awarded costs in United States  of  America Dollars, and the award was affirmed by the Court of Appeal Notwithstanding the error of the trial Judge in awarding the costs in foreign currency, the fact remains that the Appellants (Plaintiffs in the High Court) are entitled to costs. It would be with great reluctance that I would leave the costs awarded in the High Court intact without a measured and an appropriate reduction of the US Dollar amount.  In the  given circumstances, I am of  the firm view that the award in the High Court is excessive and bears no relationship to the work that had been done up to and at the time  the costs were awarded. Even if I am inclined to reduce the costs awarded in the High Court I would have to do so in the absence of any  ground of appeal against  the quantum of the costs. There is no ground of appeal on the quantum, no challenge, in my view rightly so, in the absence of a ground of appeal in the statement of case of or the issues presented by the Appellants; and notably

 

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absent in the arguments of Mr. Gooding. Notwithstanding, the award of costs is at the discretion of the Court and must not be viewed strictly in the adversarial context of our civil proceedings. If on the face of the record, it is clearly apparent that the amount is high, grossly excessive and without a proper foundation, it is within the jurisdiction of this court, in my view. suo moto, to correct the situation. In my judgment, there is no justification or basis for an award of costs in the instant case in a foreign currency. and. accordingly, costs are to be awarded in Leones.

 

CONCLUSION

All the grounds of appeal, except grounds 6, 7, 8 and 9, fail. Grounds  6. 7.8 and 9 are not fatal to the judgment and, accordingly, have  been  dealt with  The issues have been determined in the course of the judgment. In the premises, I hereby give judgment to the Respondents as follows:

 

1. The   award   of US  $290,300.00 to the Respondents is herein affirmed.

2. This  matter  has  been  too  long  in the Courts. The Court is not inclined to order any inquiry into the lending interest rate on the

 

foreign currency in question. interest.

 

Consequently, no order as to

 

3. Costs at the High Court and this Court awarded to the

Respondents. The costs in the respective courts to be taxed. The order for costs in the Court of Appeal to be taxed remains undisturbed. All costs to be taxed and computed in Leones.

I thank both Counsel for their hard work, and the invaluable help given to (he Court. I commend Mr., Gooding for the several and many difficult issues he raised and vigorously argued.

 

 

 

 

(    / / 7    ! (_/1...-,£/ I  ,, (. (

 

HON. JUST/ GIBRIL B. SEMEGA-JANNEH