An Accra High Court has directed the Attorney-General’s Department to provide a detailed explanation for the continued detention of Alhaji Seidu Abagre, who has remained in the custody of state security agencies for nearly three weeks without formal charges.
The order was issued on Monday, January 12, 2026, by Justice Halimah El-Alawa Abdul-Baasit following a Habeas Corpus application filed by Abagre’s legal team. The application seeks judicial scrutiny of the legality of his detention.
Alhaji Abagre is a key figure in the long-running Bawku chieftaincy dispute, having laid claim to the title of Bawku Na Ba. He was installed by the Nayiri of Mamprugu, Naa Bohagu Mahami Abdulai Sheriga II, and dispatched to Bawku to assume authority—an action later described as procedurally flawed by the Otumfuo-led mediation committee established to find a lasting resolution to the conflict.
The Otumfuo committee subsequently advised that Abagre be recalled from Bawku in the Upper East Region to Nalerigu, the seat of the Nayiri, where he would be reassigned another traditional responsibility.
Against this backdrop, Abagre was removed from Bawku on December 24, 2025, by personnel of the Ghana Armed Forces, acting on recommendations emerging from the mediation efforts led by the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II.
In court, Justice Abdul-Baasit relied on Section 3 of the Habeas Corpus Act, 1964 (Act 244), which mandates that detaining authorities submit a report outlining the circumstances and legal basis of a person’s detention. The Attorney-General has been given until January 21, 2026, to file this report.
Notably, the Deputy Attorney-General, Dr Justice Srem-Sai, appeared in court even before the state had been formally served. He told the court that the Attorney-General’s office chose to intervene early because of the matter’s public interest significance and its potential national security implications.
According to Dr Srem-Sai, the state’s early appearance was intended to streamline proceedings, reduce procedural delays, and ensure that Abagre’s constitutional and human rights were fully protected.
However, the defence painted a starkly different picture. Human rights lawyer Martin Kpebu, who represents Abagre, told the court that his client was being held incommunicado. He disclosed that he had been denied access to Abagre for over two and a half weeks, despite repeated requests to security agencies.
Mr Kpebu urged the court to invoke Section 2 of Act 244, which empowers the court to compel the physical production of a detainee, arguing that continued denial of access amounted to a violation of fundamental rights.
Key Dates at a Glance
| Date |
Event |
| Dec 24, 2025 |
Seidu Abagre removed from Bawku by the Ghana Armed Forces |
| Jan 12, 2026 |
High Court orders AG to justify detention |
| Jan 21, 2026 |
Deadline for filing Section 3 report |
| Jan 26, 2026 |
Case adjourned for continuation |
The Wider Bawku Context
Abagre’s detention comes amid fragile peace efforts in Bawku, a conflict zone marked by competing claims to the Bawku Skin and repeated outbreaks of violence. Over the years, the dispute has led to prolonged curfews, insecurity, and loss of lives.
While the Asantehene’s mediation has been widely regarded as a final attempt at a comprehensive peace settlement, the continued detention of Abagre has shifted attention from traditional arbitration to constitutional safeguards and the rule of law.
The court has adjourned proceedings to January 26, 2026, when it will assess the Attorney-General’s report and determine the next legal steps regarding Abagre’s liberty.
