EQUITY BANK RWANDA Plc (ex COGEBANQUE Plc) v. NYIRINKWAYA

# EQUITY BANK RWANDA Plc (ex COGEBANQUE Plc) v. NYIRINKWAYA

- Source: Amategeko - Section: Decisions (Judgements) - Date: 2024-11-27 - Case/document no.: RCOMAA 00050/2023/CA - Collection: Court of Appeal

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EQUITY BANK RWANDA Plc (ex COGEBANQUE Plc) v. NYIRINKWAYA [Rwanda URUKIKO RW’UBUJURIRE – RCOMAA 00050/2023/CA (Munyangeri, P.J., Kamere na Ngagi, J.) 27 Ugushyingo 2024] Amategeko agenga imiburanishirize y’imanza z’imbonezamubano – Amasezerano y’ubwumvikane – Agaciro n’ingaruka z’amasezerano y’ubwumvikane – Amasezerano y’ubwumvikane yarangije gushyirwaho umukono n’ababuranyi bombi afatwa nk’ayamaze gukemura ikibazo bari bafitanye, kandi akaba agomba kubahirizwa n’impande zombi zayagiranye. Incamake y’ikibazo: Nyirinkwaya Jean Chrysostome yagiranye amasezerano y’inguzanyo na COGEBANQUE Plc, nyuma aza kuyishyurirwa na EQUITY BANK Rwanda bituma ingwate ku mitungo ya Nyirinkwaya Jean Chrysostome zari zarahawe COGEBANQUE Plc nazo zimukira muri EQUITY BANK RWANDA Plc hamwe n’umwenda zatangiwe. Nyirinkwaya yatanze ikirego mu Rukiko rw’Ubucuruzi arega COGEBANQUE Plc asaba Urukiko kuyitegeka kumusubiza 298.257.786 Frw ahwanye na 8% y’umwenda yari ayifitiye avuga ko yakaswe mu buryo budakurikije amategeko, inyungu zayo n’indishyi zitandukanye. Urukiko rw’Ubucuruzi rwemeje ko ikirego cya Nyirinkwaya kitakiriwe kuko atariwe ufite ubusha bwo kuregera ayo masezerano, ajuririra mu Rukiko Rukuru rw’Ubucuruzi rwemeza ko ubujurire bwe bufite ishingiro. COGEBANQUE Plc yajuririye mu Rukiko rw’ubujurire, ku munsi w’iburanisha ababuranyi bashyira muri dosiye amasezerano yo kwikiranura basoje gushyiraho umukono agaragaza ko impaka bari bafitanye zatumye bagirana uru rubanza bazirangirije mu bwumvikane, akaba ari nacyo kibazo cyasuzumwaga ku bijyanye no kumenya agaciro n’ingaruka z’ayo masezerano yo kwikiranura. Incamake y’icyemezo: Amasezerano y’ubwumvikane yarangije gushyirwaho umukono n’ababuranyi bombi afatwa nk’ayamaze gukemura ikibazo bari bafitanye, kandi aba agomba kubahirizwa n’impande zombi zayagiranye. Amasezerano y’ubwumvikane asoje urubanza kandi agomba kubahirizwa. Amategeko yashingiweho: Itegeko Nº 22/2018 yo ku wa 29/04/2018 ryerekeye imiburanishirize y’imanza z’imbonezamubano, iz’ubucuruzi, iz’umurimo n’iz’ubutegetsi, ingingo ya 9 Itegeko Nº 45/2011 ryo ku wa 25/11/2011 rigenga amasezerano, ingingo ya 64. Nta manza zifashishijwe

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Urubanza

I. IMITERERE Y’URUBANZA: [1] Ku wa 24/08/2020, Nyirinkwaya Jean Chrysostome ufite izina ry’ubucuruzi Hôpital La Croix du Sud yagiranye na COGEBANQUE Plc amasezerano y’umwenda ungana na 3.700.000.000 Frw, agenda awishyura ku buryo ku wa 07/12/2021 uwo mwenda wari ugeze kuri 3.244.638.304 Frw, hanyuma uza kwishyurwa na EQUITY BANK RWANDA Plc, iwuhaho inguzanyo Hôpital La Croix du Sud Ltd, sosiyete y’ubucuruzi Nyirinkwaya Jean Chrysostome ahagarariye akaba n’umunyamigabane wayo, ingwate ku mitungo ya Nyirinkwaya Jean Chrysostome zari zarahawe COGEBANQUE Plc nazo zimukira muri EQUITY BANK RWANDA Plc hamwe n’umwenda zatangiwe. [2] Nyirinkwaya Jean Chrisostome yareze COGEBANQUE Plc mu Rukiko rw’Ubucuruzi, arusaba kuyitegeka kumusubiza 298.257.786 Frw ahwanye na 8% y’umwenda yari ayifitiye avuga ko yakaswe mu buryo budakurikije amategeko, inyungu zayo n’indishyi zitandukanye. [3] Muri urwo rubanza, COGEBANQUE Plc yatanze inzitizi y’iburabubasha, inyungu n’ubushobozi bya Nyirinkwaya Jean Chrysostome, isaba ko ikirego cye kitakirwa ngo kuko inshingano n’uburenganzira yari afite mu masezerano yagiranye na COGEBANQUE Plc ku wa 24/08/2020 yazeguriye EQUITY BANK RWANDA Plc hakurikijwe ibiteganywa n’ingingo ya 121 y’Itegeko rigenga amasezerano, nk’uko bigaragazwa n’inyandiko EQUITY BANK RWANDA Plc yandikiye COGEBANQUE Plc ku wa 03/11/2021, iyimenyesha ko ishaka kugura umwenda Nyirinkwaya Jean Chrysostome yari ayifitiye, ndetse ikaza no kuwugura ikawishyura nk’uko bigaragazwa na sheki ifite nº 00001149 yo ku wa 14/12/2021, bityo ko ikirego cye kitakirwa, kuko atari we ufite ububasha bwo kugira icyo akurikiranaho COGEBANQUE Plc kijyanye n’ayo masezerano, ariko Urukiko rwemeza ko iyo nzitizi izasuzumirwa hamwe n’urubanza mu mizi. [4] Ku wa 31/05/2022, Urukiko rw’Ubucuruzi rwakijije urubanza RCOM 00302/2022/TC maze rwemeza ko : a. inzitizi y’iburabubasha n’inyungu yatanzwe na COGEBANQUE Plc ifite ishingiro; b. Nyirinkwaya Jean Chrysostome nta bubasha n’inyungu afite byo gutanga iki kirego; c. ikirego cya Nyirinkwaya Jean Chrysostome kitakiriwe; d. Nyirinkwaya Jean Chrysostome yishyura COGEBANQUE Plc 600.000 Frw y’igihembo cya Avoka na 200.000 Frw y’ikurikiranarubanza; e. amagarama yatanzwe na Nyirinkwaya Jean Chrysostome arega ahwanye n’imirimo yakozwe mu rubanza. [5] Nyirinkwaya Jean Chrysostome yajuririye urwo rubanza mu Rukiko Rukuru rw’Ubucuruzi, avuga ko Urukiko rw’Ubucuruzi rutari rukwiye kuvuga ko adafite inyungu n’ububasha kandi yari yaburanye asaba gusubizwa amafaranga we yakaswe mu buryo budakurikije amategeko.

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[6] COGEBANQUE Plc yireguye ivuga ko Nyirinkwaya Jean Chrysostome nta bubasha bwo kugira icyo ayikurikiranaho kijyanye n’amasezerano y’umwenda yo ku wa 24/08/2020 yari afitanye na yo, ngo kuko uretse no kuba ayo masezerano yararangiye nta nshingano n’uburenganzira akiyafiteho, ngo kuko ibirebana nayo byose yabyeguriye EQUITY BANK RWANDA Plc mu buryo bwemewe n’amategeko nk’uko biteganywa n’ingingo ya 121 y’Itegeko rigenga amasezerano, ko ngo ibyo bigaragazwa n’inyandiko EQUITY BANK RWANDA Plc yandikiye COGEBANQUE Plc ku wa 03/11/2021 iyimenyesha ko ishaka kugura umwenda Nyirinkwaya yari afite, hanyuma ikaza kuwugura ikawishyura nk’uko bigaragazwa na sheki ifite nº 00001149 yo ku wa 14/12/2021, kandi ko atagaragaza niba EQUITY BANK RWANDA Plc hari icyo imwishyuza cyane cyane ko yivugira ko nta masezerano afitanye na yo; Bityo ko nta bubasha, inyungu n’ubushobozi afite byo kuregera amasezerano yavuzwe haruguru. COGEBANQUE Plc yanasabye Urukiko gutegeka Nyirinkwaya Jean Chrysostome/Hopital La Croix du Sud kuyisubiza amafaranga y’igihembo cya Avoka n’ay’ikurikiranarubanza yiyongera ku yo yagenewe ku rwego rubanza. [7] Ku wa 13/10/2023, Urukiko Rukuru rw’Ubucuruzi rwakijije urubanza RCOMA 00465/2022/HCC, maze rwemeza ko ubujurire rwashyikirijwe na Nyirinkwaya Jean Chrysostome bufite ishingiro. Rutegeka ko imikirize y’urubanza RCOM 00302/2022/TC rwaciwe n’Urukiko rw’Ubucuruzi ku wa 31/05/2022 iteshejwe agaciro, bityo ko urubanza RCOM 00302/2022/TC rusubizwa mu Rukiko rw’Ubucuruzi kugira ngo ruburanishwe mu mizi. [8] Ku wa 02/11/2023, EQUITY BANK RWANDA Plc (ex COGEBANQUE Plc) yajuririye urubanza RCOMA 00465/2022/HCC mu Rukiko rw’Ubujurire, ubujurire bwayo bwandikwa kuri RCOMAA 00050/2023/CA. Iburanisha ry’urubanza ryashyizwe ku wa 04/11/2024, ababuranyi bombi bitaba EQUITY BANK RWANDA Plc ihagarariwe na Me Munyangabe Henri Pierre, Nyirinkwaya Jean Chrysostome ahagarariwe na Me Kalinda Stephen na Me Murasira Appolinaire, Urukiko rushishikariza ababuranyi kurangiza ikibazo bafitanye mu bwumvikane barabyemera, iburanisha rirasubikwa kugira ngo bajye mu biganiro byo kurangiza ikibazo mu bwumvikane, bamenyeshwa ko nibumvikana icyemezo kizasomwa ku wa 20/11/2024, ubwumvikane butashoboka iburanisha rigakomeza uwo munsi. Ku wa 20/11/2024, ababuranyi bamenyeshejwe ko gahunda yari iteganyijwe kuri uwo munsi yimuriwe ku wa 27/11/2024 i saa tanu za mu gitondo, uwo munsi ababuranyi bashyira muri dosiye amasezerano yo kwikiranura basoje gushyiraho umukono kuri uyu wa 27/11/2024 agaragaza ko impaka bari bafitanye zatumye bagirana uru rubanza bazirangirije mu bwumvikane. [9] Hashingiwe ku miterere n’imigendekere y’uru rubanza imaze gusobanurwa haruguru, hagiye gusuzumwa agaciro k’ayo masezerano y’ubwumvikane yabaye hagati y’ababuranyi n’ingaruka zayo ku rubanza RCOMAA 00050/2023/CA rwari mu Rukiko rw’Ubujurire. II. ISESENGURA RY’IKIBAZO KIGIZE URU RUBANZA Kumenya agaciro k’amasezerano y’ubwumvikane yarangije gushyirwaho umukono ku wa 27/11/2024 hagati y’ababuranyi bombi n’ingaruka zayo ku rubanza RCOMAA 00050/2023/CA rwari mu Rukiko rw’Ubujurire [10] Ingingo ya 9, igika cya 3, y’Itegeko Nº 22/2018 yo ku wa 29/04/2018 ryerekeye imiburanishirize y’imanza z’imbonezamubano, iz’ubucuruzi, iz’umurimo n’iz’ubutegetsi,

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iteganya ibikurikira: "Umucamanza ashobora gushishikariza ababuranyi gukoresha ubwunzi iyo abona ko ari bwo buryo buboneye mu kurangiza impaka. Ashobora kubunga ubwe cyangwa akabohereza mu bwunzi, agasubika urubanza mu gihe ubwunzi burimo gukorwa". [11] Ingingo ya 64 y’Itegeko Nº 45/2011 ryo ku wa 25/11/2011 rigenga amasezerano, iteganya ibikurikira: “Amasezerano akozwe ku buryo bukurikije amategeko aba itegeko ku bayagiranye”. [12] Nk’uko byasobanuwe haruguru, mu iburanisha ryo ku wa 04/11/2024, ababuranyi bashishikarijwe n’Urukiko gukemura mu bwumvikane impaka bafitanye, barabyemera, Urukiko rusubika urubanza mu gihe ubwumvikane bwarimo bukorwa, nk’uko biteganywa n’ingingo ya 9, igika cya 3, y’Itegeko Nº 22/2018 ryo ku wa 29/04/2018 yibukijwe haruguru. [13] Mu butumwa ababuranyi bashyize muri dosiye mu gitondo cyo ku wa 27/11/2024, ababuranyi bose bashimangiye ko bamaze kumvikana mu masezerano basoje gushyiraho umukono ku wa 27/11/2024, ubwo bwumvikane bukaba bugamije gusoza urubanza bari bafitanye muri uru Rukiko nk’uko byari byifujwe mu iburanisha riheruka ryo ku wa 04/11/2024. Mu by’ingenzi bigaragara muri ayo masezerano yo kwikiranura, harimo kuba ababuranyi bombi bumvikanye ko Dr Nyirinkwaya Jean Chrisostome/HOPITAL LA CROIX DU SUD aretse ikirego yari yaratanze mu Rukiko rw’Ubucuruzi mu rubanza RCOM 00302/2022/TC no mu Rukiko Rukuru rw’Ubucuruzi mu rubanza RCOMA 00465/2022/HCC naho EQUITY BANK RWANDA Plc ikareka ikirego yatanze mu bujurire mu rubanza RCOMAA 00050/2023/CA, izo manza zose zikaba zikuweho n’icyemezo kiri muri aya masezerano y’ubwumvikane, ndetse ko buri ruhande rugomba kuziyishyurira abavoka (legal fees) n’ibindi byose byakoreshejwe muri izi manza. [14] Ku byerekeye amasezerano y’ubwumvikane yarangije gushyirwaho umukono n’ababuranyi bombi ku wa 27/11/2024, Urukiko rurasanga yarakemuye ikibazo ababuranyi bari bafitanye akaba rero asoje urubanza RCOMAA 00050/2024/CA rwari mu Rukiko rw’Ubujurire hagati ya EQUITY BANK RWANDA Plc na Nyirinkwaya Jean Chrysostome, kandi akaba agomba kubahirizwa n’impande zombi zayagiranye nk’uko biteganywa n’ingingo ya 64 y’Itegeko Nº 45/2011 ryo ku wa 25/11/2011 rigenga amasezerano yibukijwe haruguru. III. ICYEMEZO CY’URUKIKO [15] Rwemeje ko amasezerano y’ubwumvikane yarangije gushyirwaho umukono ku wa 27/11/2024 hagati ya EQUITY BANK RWANDA Plc na Nyirinkwaya Jean Chrysostome asoje urubanza RCOMAA 00050/2024/CA rwari mu Rukiko rw’Ubujurire kandi akaba ari yo agomba kubahirizwa. [16] Ruvuze ko amagarama y’uru rubanza aherera ku Isanduku ya Leta.