ABAZUNGURA BA KAREMERA v. RUZINDANA
The claim against Karemera Boniface (and his heirs) was inadmissible because the property in question belonged to Société Générale des Pétroles (SGP), not to Karemera personally, and thus only the company could be sued regarding its property. The heirs lacked standing to be sued in this matter. The first instance...
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- RCOMA 0069/11/CS
- Parties
- Appellant: Abazungura ba Karemera Boniface (Umubyeyi Diane, Muhire Berno Didier, Ntwari Brice, Muhayemariya Lise Thérèse); Respondent: Ruzindana Jérémie; Intervener: Guaranty Trust Bank Ltd (ex Fina Bank Ltd)
- Court
- Supreme Court
- Jurisdiction
- Rwanda
- Judgment Date
- 20 June 2014
- Case Number
- RCOMA 0069/11/CS
- Procedural Posture
- Commercial Appeal / Supreme Court Judgment
- Outcome
- Appeal allowed; first instance judgment set aside for lack of standing.
- Legal Topics
- Standing (qualité), Corporate Representation, Non Receivability of Claims, Company Property Vs. Personal Property
Source-derived case record
Summary, issues, holding and outcome
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Parties
Abazungura ba Karemera Boniface (Umubyeyi Diane, Muhire Berno Didier, Ntwari Brice, Muhayemariya Lise Thérèse)
Appellant
Ruzindana Jérémie
Respondent
Guaranty Trust Bank Ltd (ex Fina Bank Ltd)
Intervener
Procedural Posture
Commercial Appeal / Supreme Court Judgment
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether the claim against Karemera Boniface (and his heirs) was admissible given the property belonged to Société Générale des Pétroles (SGP) and not to Karemera personally
- 2 Whether the proper party was sued
Ratio Decidendi
The claim against Karemera Boniface (and his heirs) was inadmissible because the property in question belonged to Société Générale des Pétroles (SGP), not to Karemera personally, and thus only the company could be sued regarding its property. The heirs lacked standing to be sued in this matter. The first instance judgment was set aside for lack of standing (absence de qualité).
Court Disposition
Appeal allowed; first instance judgment set aside for lack of standing.
Orders
- The objection of lack of standing raised by the heirs of Karemera Boniface is upheld.
- The judgment RCOM 0181/09/HCC of the Commercial High Court is set aside.
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
16 paragraphs
# ABAZUNGURA BA KAREMERA v. RUZINDANA
- Source: Amategeko - Section: Decisions (Judgements) - Date: 2014-06-20 - Case/document no.: RCOMA 0069/11/CS - Collection: Supreme Court
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ABAZUNGURA BA KAREMERA v. RUZINDANA [Rwanda SUPREME COURT – RCOMA 0069/11/CS (Kayitesi R, P.J., Rugabirwa na Mukandamage, J.) 20 Kamena 2014] Amategeko agenga imiburanishirize y’imanza z’imbonezamubano – Ububasha bwo kuregwa – Igurisha ry’umutungo wa sosiyete rikozwe n’umunyamigabane myinshi uyihagarariye – Ntibifatwa ko awugirishije ku giti cye, ahubwo aba ahagarariye sosiyete – Mu gukurikirana uwo mutungo, uwawuguze ntarega uwo munyamigabane kuko nta bubasha bwo kuregwa afite, haregwa sosiyete. Itegeko n° 21/2012 ryo kuwa 14/06/2012 ryerekeye imiburanishirize y’imanza z’imbonezamubano, iz’ubucuruzi, iz’umurimo n’iz’ubutegetsi, ingingo ya 142 – Incamake y’ikibazo: Ruzindana Jeremie yareze Karemera Boniface mu Rukiko Rukuru rw’Ubucuruzi asaba ko yakubahiriza amasezerano bagiranye amuha ibyangombwa bya za station ebyiri za essence za Sociétés Générales des Pétroles (SGP) hamwe n’amazu kugirango aziyandikishe ho. Ariko Karemera yapfuye urubanza rutaracibwa, abazungura be bararukomeza. Urukiko Rukuru rw’Ubucuruzi rwategetse abazungura ba Karemera Boniface guha Ruzindana Jeremie izo station yamugurishije, ariko nawe abanje kubereka inyemezabuguzi. Abazungura ba Karemera Boniface bajuririye mu Rukiko rw’Ikirenga basaba ko ikirego cya Ruzindana kitagomba kwakirwa mu Rukiko Rukuru rw’Ubucuruzi kubera ko yareze Karemera ku giti cye kandi yaragombaga kurega SGP kuko ariyo nyiri ama station ya essence. Basaba kandi ko urubanza rwajuririwe rukwiye kuvanwaho kuko rwaciwe n’urukiko rutabifitiye ububasha, ko Urukiko rufite ububasha bwo kuruburanisha ari Urukiko rw’ubucuruzi rwa Nyarugenge. GTB (ex Fina bank) yagobotse ku bushake muri uru rubanza ivuga ko umutungo uburanwa ari uwayo. Uburanira abazungura ba Karemera Boniface asaba ko ikirego cya Ruzindana kitagomba kwakirwa kuko yamureze ku giti cye, akanasinya ku masezerano mwizina rye bwite. Incamake y’icyemezo : 1. Kugira ngo ikirego cyakirwe n’uko urega n’uregwa bagomba kuba bafite ububasha (qualité), mu gihe batabufite, ikirego cyabo nticyakirwa. Kubera ko umutungo wa (station SGP) wari utandukanye n‘uwa Karemera Boniface ku giti cye, n’ubwo kandi yari umunyamigabane myinshi (associé majoritaire), akaba ataragurishije Ruzindana Jérémie uwo mutungo ku giti cye, ko ahubwo yawugurishije nk’uhagarariye iyo sosiyete. Mu kuwukurikirana, Ruzindana Jérémie akaba atariwe yagombaga kurega ku giti cye kuko nta bubasha bwo kuregwa yari afite (absence de qualité). Ni muri urwo rwego n’abazungurabe batari bafite ububasha bwo kuregwa (absence de qualité). Bityo ikirego kikaba kitaragombaga kwakirwa, urubanza rwajuririwe rukaba rugomba kuvanwaho. Inzitizi y’iburabubasha bwo kuregwa ifite ishingiro. Imikirize y’urubanza RCOM 0181/09/HCC ivanyweho. Amagarama y’urubanza aherera kuregwa. 1
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Amategeko yashingiweho: Itegeko n° 21/2012 ryo kuwa 14/06/2012 ryerekeye imiburanishirize y’imanza z’imbonezamubano, iz’ubucuruzi, iz’umurimo n’iz’ubutegetsi, ingingo ya 142. Ibitekerezo by’abahanga « La qualité est une condition d’existence de l’action, exigée tant en demandant qu’en défense. Le défaut de qualité donne lieu à une fin de non-recevoir », par SERGE GUINCHARD, Droit et Pratique de la Procédure Civile, 5 ème Edition, Dalloz, Paris, 2006-2007, p. 22. Urubanza I. IMITERERE Y’URUBANZA [1] Ruzindana Jérémie yareze Karemera Boniface mu Rukiko Rukuru rw’Ubucuruzi asaba ko yakubahiriza amasezerano bagiranye kuwa 29/11/2004 bari Dar-Es-Salam akamuha ibyangombwa bya« Station » ya « essence » iri kuri Base, mu Ntara y’Amajyaruguru hamwe na « Station» ya « essence » iri mu kibanza n° 72 kiri mu Karere ka Nyarugenge n’amazu (annexes) acyubatsemo kugira ngo aziyandikisheho. [2] Karemera Boniface yapfuye urubanza rutaracibwa, bituma abazungura be aribo Umubyeyi Diane, Muhire Berno Didier, Ntwari Brice na Muhayemariya Lise Thérèse bakomeza urwo rubanza (reprise d’instance). Urukiko Rukuru rw’Ubucuruzi rwaciye urubanza, rutegeka abazungura ba Karemera Boniface guha Ruzindana Jérémie ama« Stations» ya « essence » yose Karemera Boniface yamugurishije kuwa 29/11/2004, ariko Ruzindana Jérémie akabanza kubagaragariza inyemezabuguzi zigaragaza ko yayishyuye koko. [3] Abazungura ba Karemera Boniface bajuririye urwo rubanza mu Rukiko rw’Ikirenga bavuga ko ikirego cya Ruzindana Jérémie kitagombaga kwakirwa mu Rukiko Rukuru rw’Ubucuruzi kubera ko yareze Karemera Boniface ku giti cye, nyamara yaragombaga kurega Société Générale des “Pétroles (SGP)“ kuko ariyo nyiri ama « Stations» ya « essence » yavuzwe haruguru,ko kandi urubanza rwajuririwe muri uru Rukiko rukwiye kuvanwaho kuko rwaciwe n’Urukiko Rukuru rw’Ubucuruzi rutabifitiye ububasha kuko agaciro k’ikiburanwa katageze kuri 20.000.000 Frw kuko ikiburanwa muri uru rubanza ari iyubahirizwa ry’amasezeranoy’ubugure yavuzwe haruguru, ko ahubwo Urukiko rufite ububasha bwo kuruburanisha ari Urukiko rw’Ubucuruzi rwa Nyarugenge. [4] Guaranty Trust Bank Ltd (ex Fina Bank Ltd) yagobotse ku bushake muri uru rubanza ivuga ko umutungo uburanwa muri uru rubanza atari uwa Ruzindana Jérémie cyangwa uw’abazungura ba Karemera, ko ahubwo ari uwayo. [5] Urubanza rwaburanishijwe mu ruhame kuwa 28/01/2014, kuwa 04/03/2014, no kuwa 20/05/2014, abazungura ba Karemera Boniface bahagarariwe na Me Nkurunziza François Xavier hamwe na Me Ruzindana Ignace, Ruzindana Jérémie ahagarariwe na Me Kazeneza Théophile, naho Guaranty Trust Bank Ltd (ex Fina Bank Ltd) ihagarariwe na Me Bimenyimana Eric. 2
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II.IKIBAZO KIRI MU RUBANZA N’ISESENGURWA RYACYO: Ku birebana n’inzitizi y’iburabubasha y’abazungura ba Karemera Boniface yo kuregwa muri uru rubanza (défaut de qualité du défendeur) [6] Uburanira abazungura ba Karemera Boniface avuga ko ikirego cya Ruzindana Jérémie kitagombaga kwakirwa mu Rukiko Rukuru rw’Ubucuruzi kubera ko yareze Karemera Boniface ku giti cye asaba ko yakubahiriza amasezerano bagiranye kuwa 29/11/2004 akamuha ibyangombwa bya« Station» ya « essence » iri kuri Base hamwe na « Station» ya « essence » iri mu kibanza n° 72 kiri mu Karere ka Nyarugenge n’amazu acyubatsemo (annexes), maze urwo Rukiko rubategeka kumuha uwo mutungo, rwirengagiza ko atari uwa Karemera Boniface ku giti cye, ko ahubwo ariuwa “Société Générale des Pétroles (SGP)“ yari ahagarariye icyo gihe. [7] Asobanura ko ikigaragaza ko uwo mutungo ari uwa “Société Générale des Pétroles (SGP)“ ari uko Karemera Boniface yawugurishije Ruzindana Jérémie yiyita ko ari“Président Administrateur de la Société Générale des Pétroles“, ko kandi iyi sosiyete ifite ubuzimagatozi butuma umutungo wayo utandukanywa n’uwa Karemera Boniface ku giti cye, ndetse ko iyi sosiyete iriho kuko yaburanye na Ruzindana Jérémie urubanza n° RCOM 0098/08/TC/NYGE rwaciwe n’Urukiko rw’Ubucuruzi rwa Nyarugenge kuwa 13/02/2009 n’urubanza n° RCOMA 0040/09/HCC rwaciwe n’Urukiko Rukuru rw’Ubucuruzi kuwa 27/10/2011 iratsindwa, itegekwa kumwishyura indishyi zinyuranye, ko rero ikirego cya Ruzindana Jérémie kitagombaga kwakirwa ku rwego rwa mbere kuko yareze uwo atagombaga kurega. [8] Uburanira Ruzindana Jérémie avuga ko ikirego cye cyagombaga kwakirwa mu Rukiko Rukuru rw’Ubucuruzi kuko yareze Karemera Boniface ku giti cye kubera ko ariwe wasinye ku masezerano yo kuwa 29/11/2004 mu izina rye bwite, ko kandi yari afite ububasha bwo kugurisha ama « Stations» ya « essence » ya “Société Générale des Pétroles“ yavuzwe haruguru kubera ko yari iye ku giti cye kuko Inama Rusange y’iyi sosiyete yateranye kuwa 09/09/1992,yamuhaye imigabane ingana na 2.499 (99,9 %) ihwanye na 99.960.000 Frw, naho Twagirumwami Yozefu imuha umugabane umwe (1%) uhwanye na 40.000 Frw, ko rero ariyo mpamvu yatumye ku rwego rwa mbere,Karemera Boniface adatanga inzitizi avuga ko yarezwe ataragombaga kuregwa, ndetse ko aricyo cyatumye Twagirumwami Yozefu atagoboka muri uru rubanza kugira ngo aburane. [9] Uburanira Guaranty Trust Bank Ltd (ex Fina Bank Ltd) avuga ko Karemera Boniface yagurishije Ruzindana Jérémie ama « Stations» ya « essence » ya “Société Générale des Pétroles“yavuzwe haruguru ku giti cye kubera ko yanditse amazina ye ku masezerano y’ubugureyo kuwa 29/11/2004, ko kandi yayasinye ku giti cye kuko nta Nama Rusange y’iyi sosiyete yateranye ngo imuhe ububasha bwo kuyagurisha.
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UKO URUKIKO RUBIBONA [10] Ingingo ya 142 y’Itegeko n° 21/2012 ryo kuwa 14/06/2012 ryerekeye imiburanishirize y’imanza z’imbonezamubano, iz’ubucuruzi, iz’umurimo n’iz’ubutegetsi, iteganya ko “Impamvu ituma ikirego kitakirwa ishobora kubyutswa n’umuburanyi cyangwa n’urukiko rubyibwirije. Impamvu zituma ikirego kitakirwa zigaragazwa n’urukiko rubyibwirije iyo ari indemyagihugu, nko kurenza igihe cyo kujurira cyangwa kutagira ububasha, ubushobozi cyangwa inyungu byo kurega”. [11] Hakurikijwe ibiteganywa n’iyo ngingo, Urukiko rurasanga ikirego kitakirwa mu gihe urega cyangwa uregwa adafite ububasha bwo kurega cyangwa bwo kuregwa (défaut de qualité). [12] Ibyo bihuje kandi n’ibyanditswe n’Umuhanga mu mategeko witwa Serge Guinchard mu gitabo cye cyitwa Droit et Pratique de la Procédure Civile1, aho yasobanuye ko kugira ngo ikirego cyakirwe ari uko urega n’uregwa bagomba kuba bafite ububasha (qualité), ko mu gihe batabufite, ikirego cyabo kitakirwa. [13] Ku birebana n’uru rubanza, amasezerano y’ubugure (Acte de vente) yo kuwa 29/11/2004 ari muri dosiye, agaragaza ko Karemera Boniface yagurishije Ruzindana Jérémie« Station» ya « essence » iri kuri Base, mu Ntara y’Amajyaruguru hamwe na « Station» ya « essence » iri mu kibanza n° 72 kiri mu Karere ka Nyarugenge cyubatsemo amazu (annexes) avuga ko ari “Président Administrateur de la Société Générale des Pétroles, en abrégé SGP“. [14] Inyandiko ziri muri dosiye zigaragaza kandi ko nyuma y’ayo amasezerano, Ruzindana Jérémie yareze Karemera Boniface ku giti cye mu Rukiko Rukuru rw’Ubucuruzi kuri n° RCOM 0181/09/HCC asaba ko yakubahiriza ayo masezerano akamuha ibyangombwa by’ama « Stations» ya « essence » yavuzwe haruguru yamugurishije kugira ngo ayiyandikisheho, ko Karemera Boniface yapfuye urwo rubanza rutaracibwa, bituma abazungura be bakomeza urwo rubanza (reprise d’instance), urwo Rukiko rubategeka guha Ruzindana Jérémie ama « Stations» ya « essence » yose Karemera Boniface yamugurishije kuwa 29/11/2004, abanje kubagaragariza inyemezabuguzi zigaragaza ko yayishyuye koko. [15] Urukiko rurasanga igihe Ruzindana Jérémie yagiranaga na Karemera Boniface amasezerano y’ubugure bw’ama « Stations» ya « essence » yavuzwe haruguru kuwa 29/11/2004, Karemera Boniface yari ahagarariye “Société Générale des Pétroles (SGP)“ nka “Président Administrateur“wayo nk’uko bigaragara mu gika cyayo cya mbere kirebana n’abagiranye ayo masezerano, akaba rero n’ubwo yari umunyamigabane myinshi (associé majoritaire),ataragurishije Ruzindana Jérémie uwo mutungo ku giti cye, ko ahubwo yawugurishije nk’uhagarariye iyo sosiyete, bityo mu kuwukurikirana, Ruzindana Jérémie akaba atariwe yagombaga kurega ku giti cye kuko nta bubasha bwo kuregwa yari afite (absence de qualité)hashingiwe ku bikubiye mu ngingo ya 142 y’Itegeko ryavuzwe haruguru, bishimangiwe 1« La qualité est une condition d’existence de l’action, exigée tant en demandant qu’en défense. Le défaut de qualité donne lieu à une fin de non-recevoir », par SERGE GUINCHARD, Droit et Pratique de la Procédure Civile, 5 ème Edition, Dalloz, Paris, 2006-2007, p. 22. 4
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n’inyandiko y’umuhanga mu mategeko yagaragajwe haruguru, ko ahubwo yagombaga kurega “Société Générale des Pétroles (SGP)“ kuko ariyo bagiranye amasezerano. [16] Hakurikijwe ibyo bisobanuro, Urukiko rurasanga ari muri urwo rwego n’abazungura ba Karemera Boniface batari bafite ububasha bwo kuregwa (absence de qualité) ngo bakomeze urubanza rurebana n’amasezerano yakozwe na“Société Générale des Pétroles (SGP)“, bityo ikirego cya Ruzindana Jérémie kikaba kitaragombaga kwakirwa, urubanza RCOM 0181/09/HCC rwajuririwe muri uru Rukiko rukaba rugomba kuvanwaho. [17] Urukiko rurasanga rero bitakiri ngombwa gusuzuma izindi ngingo z’ubujurire zatanzwe n’abazunguraba Karemera Boniface no kugoboka kwa Guaranty Trust Bank Ltd muri uru rubanza. III. ICYEMEZO CY’URUKIKO [18] Rwemeje ko inzitizi yatanzwe n’abazungura ba Karemera Boniface y’iburabubasha bwo kuregwa muri uru rubanza ifite ishingiro; [19] Ruvuze ko imikirize y’urubanza RCOM 0181/09/HCC rwaciwe n’Urukiko Rukuru rw’Ubucuruzi kuwa 02/06/2011 ivanyweho; [20] Rutegetse Ruzindana Jérémie gutanga amagarama y’uru rubanza angana na 71.150 Frw, habariwemo n’ayo mu Rukiko Rukuru rw’Ubucuruzi, atayatanga mu gihe cy’iminsi umunani, ayo mafaranga akavanwa mu bye ku ngufu za Leta. 5
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