TAYLOR J.: By his writ of summons of 17 September 1968 the plaintiff-respondent hereinafter to be referred to in this judgment as the respondent claimed against the defendant-appellants hereinafter referred to as the appellants the sum of’ N¢480.60 “being rents, water and electricity bills, etc. unpaid by the defendants while occupying plaintiff’s house No. 8 Block 12, Old Amakom, Kumasi.” The writ was supported by an affidavit in paragraph (12) of which the details of the claim were spelled out; and in paragraph (15) the respondent applied for the cause to be placed on the undefended list.
The appellants were duly served on 23 September 1968 and the return date was stated in the writ of summons as 30 September 1968 thus giving the appellants seven days to take steps to answer the claim if they had a defence. However, on the return day Mr. Karikari holding brief for Mr. Mensa-Bonsu for the appellants applied to the district court grade I presided over by his worship Mr. A. Essilfie-Bon…