Scenes of jubilation erupted at the Law Court Complex on Monday after Alhaji Seidu Abagre, popularly known as Naa Sheriga, was granted bail in the sum of ¢100,000 with two sureties in a high-profile case linked to the protracted Bawku chieftaincy dispute.
The 78-year-old retired teacher is standing trial for allegedly holding himself out as a chief without lawful qualification, an offence connected to the sensitive chieftaincy tensions in the Bawku Traditional Area.
The court’s decision followed a dramatic turn during proceedings when the Attorney-General’s Department formally waived its right to oppose the bail application, clearing the way for the court to grant bail to the accused.
Supporters of Alhaji Seidu Abagre, who had thronged the court premises from the early hours, broke into cheers and chants as the ruling was announced, reflecting the deep emotions surrounding the case and its wider implications for the chieftaincy conflict.
Alhaji Seidu Abagre, who has consistently denied any wrongdoing, is accused of presenting himself as a chief without being duly enskinned or recognized under customary law. Prosecutors argue that such actions risk aggravating tensions in the already volatile Bawku area.
The court, however, held that the accused is entitled to bail under the law, particularly in light of his advanced age and the Attorney-General’s decision not to contest the application.
The case forms part of ongoing legal efforts by the state to address actions deemed capable of inflaming the long-running chieftaincy dispute in Bawku, which has claimed lives and displaced residents over the years.
Alhaji Seidu Abagre is expected to strictly comply with his bail conditions, while the court continues to hear the substantive case.
Proceedings have been adjourned to a later date, as the legal battle over the chieftaincy claims and their implications for peace and security in Bawku continues to unfold.
By Paqmediagh/Peter Quao Adattor
