High Court Orders A-G to Justify Detention of Alhaji Seidu Abagre
The High Court has ordered the Attorney-General to file a written report justifying the continued detention of Alhaji Seidu Abagre, following claims by his lawyers that he has been unlawfully held in custody since December 24, 2025.
The order was made during proceedings on a habeas corpus application challenging the legality of Abagre’s arrest and detention by the state.
The court directed that the report be filed on or before January 21, 2026, with the matter adjourned to January 26 for further hearing.
Alhaji Seidu Abagre has been at the centre of the chieftaincy dispute in Bawku, where he claimed to be the Bawku Na Ba.
That claim, however, was rejected in a mediation report submitted by Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, the Asantehene, who was tasked to lead mediation efforts on the conflict.
The report affirmed Naaba Asigri Abugrago Asoka II as the legitimate Bawku Naba.
Following the mediation outcome, Abagre was reportedly required either to leave Bawku and accept reassignment by the Overlord of Mamprugu, the Nayiri, who initially selected him, or to remain in Bawku strictly as an ordinary resident.
Despite this, he was subsequently arrested by the Ghana Armed Forces and handed over to the National Investigations Bureau (NIB), where he has remained in custody.
His lawyers contend that the detention is unlawful, arguing that he has been held without due process since December 24, 2025.
They further alleged that although the state obtained a court order to detain him, the order was secured without giving Abagre an opportunity to be heard, a move they say violates his constitutional rights and forms the basis of the current application before the court.
During proceedings, the court emphasised that under Section 2 of the Habeas Corpus Act, it has the discretion to order the production of a detainee and require the custodian to submit a written report stating the grounds of detention.
The court indicated that consideration of whether Abagre should be physically produced in court would be addressed after the Attorney-General’s report is filed.
