The Judiciary Committee of the Northern Regional House of Chiefs has unanimously upheld Naa Abdulai Naatogma as the legitimate Paramount Chief of Karaga. Accordingly, the committee has also awarded a penalty cost of GHS5,000 against the respondent.
The three member committee chaired by Naa Yab Kumbungu Naa Alhaji Iddrisu Abu and Naa Bapri Bakpab Naa Adam Naatogma and Naa Bapri Sabob Naa John Bowan Matheer as members, further gave the Karaga Regent, Naa Mahama Sumani, a 48hour ultimatum to vacate the Karaga Chief Palace for the petitioner to take over as the rightful occupant of the skin.
Petitioner’s Reliefs
Naa Naatogma in his petition invoked the judiciary authority of the committee to declare that, the respondent by virtue of his father not being a Ya Naa was not qualified to be enskinned as Kari’ Naa.
He also sought a declaration that, the act purportedly done by the defendant was null and void in line with the norms and customs of Dagbon; a declaration that the petitioner having been enskinned as Chief of Karaga by the Ya Naa is the proper and legitimate occupant of the skin; and an order compelling the respondent to handover the Chief palace and any other chieftaincy regalia in his possession to the appropriate authority and a perpetual injunction restraining him [Regent] from holding himself as Kari’ Naa.
Respondent’s Response
The defendant however in his response stated he was against all the reliefs that the petitioner was seeking and brought forth a counter reliefs that the purported selection and enskinment of the petitioner as Kari’ Naa by the Ya Naa was null and void as violating the customs of Dagbon and its off no effect.
He also sought a declaration that, succession to the Karaga skin is not the sole preserve of the sons of Ya Naa but rather the exclusive preserve of Mahami sons and grandsons inclusive of the petitioner; an order of permanent injunction restraining the petitioner, his assigns, servants and successors from hindering the respondent in any way from performing the roles and functions of Kari’Naa; an order of permanent injunction directed at the petitioner, his assigns, servants and successors from carrying/holding himself out as Kari’Naa, cost including the solicitors fee.
But the committee in their judgment by virtue of the evidence and facts adduced upheld the petition and fully dismissed the counter petition by the defendant.
Background His Royal Majesty, Ya Naa Abukari II enskinned Naa Abdulai Naatogma from the Abudu royal family in 2020 as part of the Dagbon peace pact but the Regent of the Mahami family also declared himself as Chief of Karaga which was widely condemned because it undermines the authority of the Dagbon King.
