The Deputy Attorney General, Dr Justice Srem-Sai, has assured the court that the Republic remains committed to upholding the constitutional right to personal liberty of Alhaji Seidu Abagre, while also ensuring public safety, peace, and order.
Dr Srem-Sai submitted while opposing bail in a case in which Alhaji Abagre has been charged with, among other offences, holding himself out as a chief without qualification. He cited security concerns linked to the ongoing Bawku chieftaincy conflict.
Addressing the High Court presided over by Justice Alimah El-Alawa Abdul-Basit on Monday, January 19, the Deputy Attorney General said the accused person’s claim to the skin lies at the heart of the conflict and that granting bail could worsen the situation.
“On personal liberty, it is the desire of the Republic that every person, including the accused, is accorded all incidents of the right to personal liberty as guaranteed by the Constitution. However, this right also imposes a duty on the Republic to maintain public safety, peace, and order,” he stated.
Dr Srem-Sai noted that while the Bawku conflict predates the accused person, the current phase of the unrest is closely linked to his conduct and position.
Responding to claims by lawyers for the accused, led by Martin Kpebu, that the Republic had “gone rogue,” the Deputy Attorney General dismissed the assertion, stressing that a valid court order authorising the detention of the accused remains in force.
On the issue of health, Dr Srem-Sai acknowledged that Alhaji Abagre’s health has not been optimal but assured the court that he has access to medical care while in custody.
He urged the court to consider whether granting bail would ensure peace and safety, even for the accused himself, and concluded by praying that Alhaji Abagre be remanded into the custody of the National Intelligence Bureau, where he has access to his family and full medical care.
By Murtala Inusah
