In a decision aimed at safeguarding the lives of the parties involved, the Chief Justice has approved the defendants’ request to shift the Bunkpurugu chieftaincy case from the High Court in Nalerigu to Tamale. The transfer follows reports that the defendants, including Elijah Saan, feared for their safety if they travelled to Nalerigu to attend the scheduled hearing on Friday, October 23, 2026.
Saan told JoyNews that intelligence had warned them that they could be killed if they appeared in court in Nalerigu, leading their lawyer to seek the relocation. The Registrar of the Nalerigu High Court confirmed the order on Friday.
The move comes amid heightened unrest in Bunkpurugu after the disputed enskinment of Melchizedek Musah Jamung as chief on September 14, 2026. The installation, carried out during an ongoing chieftaincy dispute, sparked violence that left one woman dead and four others injured. Police are actively searching for the rival chief and other members of the Jamong royal family in connection with the event.
Adding to the turmoil, the Overlord of the Mamprugu Traditional Area, Naa Bohagu Abdulai Mahami Sheriga, has filed an application in the Nalerigu High Court seeking the commitment of four individuals for contempt of court over the installation. In his October 14 application, the Nayiri accused the respondents of defying judicial processes by proceeding with the enskinment despite an ongoing legal dispute over the Bunkpurugu skin.
Reports of farm destruction, arson and residents fleeing their homes amid fears of further violence underscore the volatility of the region. The court’s decision to move the case to Tamale is seen as an attempt to mitigate the risk of further escalation.
Lawyers and court officials in Tamale are preparing to take over the case, with the next hearing now slated for a date to be announced. Stakeholders will watch closely as the legal process unfolds in the new venue.
