HABAMENSHI v RUBAYIZA

HABAMENSHI v RUBAYIZA

The Court of Appeal lacks jurisdiction to hear the second appeal because the applicant was defeated in both lower courts on the same grounds—failure to comply with legal requirements for land registration and failure to prove the respondent's refusal to effect mutation. The High Court did not rely on a non-existent...

Source-derived case information.

Citation
RCAA 00013/2022/CA
Parties
Applicant: Habamenshi Patrick; Respondent: Rubayiza Alexis
Court
Court of Appeal
Jurisdiction
Rwanda
Judgment Date
13 April 2022
Case Number
RCAA 00013/2022/CA
Procedural Posture
Civil Appeal / Second Appeal (court of Appeal)
Outcome
appeal dismissed for lack of jurisdiction
Legal Topics
Mutation of Property, Land Registration, Jurisdiction of Appellate Courts, Application of Law in Time, Costs and Attorney Fees
Civil Law Property Law Mutation of Property Land Registration Jurisdiction of Appellate Courts Application of Law in Time Costs and Attorney Fees

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Parties

Habamenshi Patrick

Applicant

Rubayiza Alexis

Respondent

Procedural Posture

Civil Appeal / Second Appeal (court of Appeal)

  1. 1 Whether the Court of Appeal has jurisdiction to hear the second appeal where the applicant claims the High Court relied on a non-existent law
  2. 2 Whether the applicant was defeated in both lower courts on the same grounds, barring a second appeal
  3. 3 Whether the respondent is entitled to attorney fees and costs

Ratio Decidendi

The Court of Appeal lacks jurisdiction to hear the second appeal because the applicant was defeated in both lower courts on the same grounds—failure to comply with legal requirements for land registration and failure to prove the respondent's refusal to effect mutation. The High Court did not rely on a non-existent law, as the law applied was in force at the time of judgment. Thus, the appeal is inadmissible.

Court Disposition

appeal dismissed for lack of jurisdiction

Orders

  • Applicant to pay respondent 500,000 Frw as attorney fees and 200,000 Frw as costs at this level, in addition to amounts awarded by lower courts.
  • Court fees to be borne as per work done in the case.