The High Court in Kumasi has officially granted bail to Alhaji Seidu Abagre, the man at the center of the recent tension in the Bawku chieftaincy dispute. He was hit with a GH¢100,000 bail with one surety, bringing a small twist to a case that has had the whole country on edge.
Abagre was arrested last year after he was reportedly “enstooled” as the Bawku Naba by the Nayiri in Nalerigu, a move that the government and the existing Bawku Naba, Asigri Abugrago Azoka II, called illegal. His arrest actually sparked some serious clashes and security concerns in the area, leading the state to charge him with “performing a traditional role without authority.”
During the hearing, his lawyers argued that he isn’t a flight risk and that keeping him in custody was only making the situation on the ground more tense. The judge seemed to agree that he could be out while the trial continues, but with strict conditions to ensure he doesn’t stir up any fresh trouble.
Even though he’s out on bail, the government is still keeping a very close eye on the North. Curfews are still in place in certain areas, and the military is on high alert because any small move regarding the Bawku skin can escalate quickly. For now, the legal battle continues, but the streets are watching to see what happens when he actually heads back home.
