Alhaji Seidu Abagre, also known as Naa Sheriga Kulga II, has been remanded into the custody of the National Intelligence Bureau (NIB) after the Accra High Court refused his bail application.
Alhaji Seidu Abagre has been formally charged with impersonating a chief without proper qualifications and inciting riots in connection with the Bawku chieftaincy dispute.
Alhaji Seidu Abagre, a 79-year-old retired teacher removed from Bawku following recommendations in the Asantehene’s mediation report on the chieftaincy dispute, was charged with four offences, including acting as a chief without qualification, provocation of riot, offensive conduct likely to breach the peace, and fighting with weapons.
During his arraignment on January 19, he pleaded not guilty to all four charges.
The court rejected his bail application after the State argued that his release could threaten national security and disturb the peace in Bawku.
The court, in its ruling, acknowledged the constitutional pillars of the presumption of innocence and the right to personal liberty.
However, the High Court held that specific circumstances warranted denying bail, siding with the State’s argument on public safety.
Dr Justice Srem-Sai, the Deputy Attorney-General representing the state, argued that releasing Alhaji Abagre could threaten the fragile peace in Bawku.
“The Republic has a duty to maintain public safety, peace, and order,” Dr Srem-Sai
Lawyer Martin Kpebu, Martin Kpebu argued that Alhaji Abagre was held unlawfully for 26 days without being informed of any charges.
“The State has spent weeks looking for charges to prefer against the accused”, Kpebu stated.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of the Interior, in a brief statement last year, announced that personnel of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) have removed Alhaji Seidu Abagre, the rival Mamprusi chief, from Bawku in the Upper East Region.
According to the Ministry of the Interior, this follows recommendations contained in the Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II mediation report.
The Interior Ministry statement read, “This afternoon, personnel of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) removed Alhaji Seidu Abagre from Bawku, pursuant to the recommendations of the Otumfuo Asantehene Osei Tutu II mediation report regarding the Bawku affair.
Alhaji Seidu Abagre is safe in the care of the security agencies”.
This is part of the recommendation of the Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, in his presentation of the final Bawku mediation report.
He recommended that the Overlord of Mamprugu, the Nayiri, accept Asigri Azoka as the Chief of Bawku and the head of the Kusasi Traditional Area.
The Otumfuo recommended that Seidu Abagre, who was recently installed by the Mamprusi side as a rival chief to the Bawku Naba, Asigri Abugrago Azoka II, should be recalled to Nalerigu.
According to the Otunfuo, Seidu Abagre, in his recommendation, must be recalled to Nalerigu and reassigned to perform a different traditional role at the Palace of the Nayiri in Nalerigu, or if he chooses to stay in Bawku, he should stay as an ordinary citizen.
See the post below:
Alhaji Seidu Abagre remanded in NIB custody over acting as Bawku Naba without qualification…#GHOneNews #EIBNetwork #GHOneTV #NewsAlert pic.twitter.com/r89lgBRFTF
— Serwaa Amihere, Esq (@Serwaa_Amihere) January 19, 2026