The Accra High Court has directed the Attorney‑General to provide a legal justification for the continued detention of Alhaji Seidu Abagre, a rival claimant to the Bawku Naba title. This follows a habeas corpus application filed by his lawyers, who argue that his arrest and detention were unlawful and violated due process.
The court has instructed that the Attorney‑General submit a written report explaining the grounds for Abagre’s detention by January 21, 2026, with further proceedings scheduled for January 26, 2026. After reviewing the report, the court will decide whether Abagre should be brought before it.
Alhaji Seidu Abagre has been involved in the long‑standing Bawku chieftaincy dispute. While he was selected as a rival Bawku chief by the Nayiri, the mediation report led by the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, affirmed Naaba Asigri Abugrago Asoka II as the legitimate Bawku Naba.
Following the mediation outcome, Abagre was reportedly expected to leave Bawku or remain as an ordinary resident. However, he was arrested on December 24, 2025, by the Ghana Armed Forces and handed over to the National Investigations Bureau, where he has remained in detention. His lawyers contend that this violates constitutional rights, as he has not been presented before a court within the required period.
The habeas corpus application names the Director-General of the National Intelligence Bureau and the Minister of the Interior as respondents, challenging the legality of his arrest and continued detention.
The case has raised wider discussions on constitutional rights and the rule of law in Ghana, as the High Court evaluates whether state authorities acted within legal limits.
