The Judicial Committee of the Upper East Regional House of Chiefs has declared Naba Raymond Alafia Abilba as the legitimate paramount chief of the Bolgatanga traditional area.
Naba Raymound Abilba and Naba Joseph Apakre were both enskinned by elders of the Bolgatanga Traditional Council and the overlord of Nalerigu, Naa Bohagu Abdulai Sheriga, respectively in May, 2015.
This resulted in litigation over who had authority to the skin.
Mr. Abilba was enskinned as Naba Awogeya-Lebna while Joseph Apakre also enskinned as Naba Abeka Noge Buuri Maltinga.
The matter was taken to court where the plaintiff, Naba Joseph Apakre had filed an application against the defendant Naba Raymond Abilba at the Upper East Regional house of chiefs asking to be declared the legitimate paramount chief of the Bolgatanga traditional area.
But the Judicial Committee of the house on Monday 25th October,2016 rather ruled in favour of the defendant Naba Raymond Abilba, consequently awarding a GHc50,000 cost against the plaintiff Joseph Apakre.
Speaking to Citi News after the ruling, counsel for the defendant, John Ndebugri, said he was satisfied with the ruling.
“The Judicial committee of the regional house of chiefs has held that, in February 1988 a judgment had already be given by the same house of chiefs which had determined these matters indicating that, the overlord of the Nalerigu traditional area (the Nayiri) is not the kingmaker of Bolgatanga skin.”
“The committee have reaffirm the early ruling and therefore the one who sent to Nayiri to be made chief of Bolga is not chief. He is not to hold himself out as a chief and his relatives are never to take him or anybody to the Nagiri to be made chief of Bolga,” Mr. Ndebugri stated.
The palace of the Bolga Naba Raymond Abilba was franked with jubilant supporters amidst singing and poppin of champagne.
The 51 year old Naba Raymond Abilba is a lawyer by profession and a mining consultant.
There was however heavy security presence at the palace to curtail any eventuality.
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By: Frederick Awuni/citifmonline.com/Ghana