An Accra High Court has ordered the detention of the “rival Bawku Naba,” Alhaji Seidu Abagre, following his arrest on December 24, 2025, after the Asantehene recommended his removal as Bawku Naba in a mediation report.
Martin Kpebu, lead counsel for Alhaji Seidu Abagre, speaking to the media after court proceedings on January 19, 2026, disclosed that his client has been remanded in custody after being slapped with four charges.
According to him, Alhaji Seidu Abagre has been charged with provoking a riot in Bawku, breach of the peace, unlawfully holding himself out as a chief contrary to the Chieftaincy Act, and unlawful possession of firearms.
Martin Kpebu further explained that the case has been adjourned to February 2, 2026, despite a bail application.
Court orders state to justify detention of ‘rival Bawku Naba’ Alhaji Seidu
“The court has remanded him, so we are returning in respect of today’s criminal case on February 2, 2026. This is a criminal matter before the Attorney-General. They have slapped him with four charges. They allege that he held himself out as a chief contrary to the Chieftaincy Act.
“They also say he provoked a riot and behaved in a manner likely to cause a breach of the peace. These are what we describe in law as misdemeanours. He is not a flight risk, so we applied for bail, but the court declined and asked us to return,” he said.
Kpebu also spoke about an earlier habeas corpus application filed on behalf of his client, noting that the matter has been adjourned to January 26, 2026.
According to him, the state does not have sufficient grounds to continue detaining his client.
‘Rival’ Bawku Naaba Detention: ‘I’ve not seen my client in 18 days’ – Kpebu fumes
“On the 26th, we will return to the first case, the habeas corpus application. The state simply picked him up and put him in custody. For 26 days, they didn’t know what to do. It is today that they have come up with what we consider bogus charges.
“So we are challenging the legality of his detention. That is what we will be coming back on Monday to pursue. If they cannot justify why they kept him, the judge will order his release. So there are two cases: the habeas corpus application and the criminal case the state, or the Republic, has commenced against him,” he added.
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