A Tamale High Court II presided over by His Lordship Kwame Ansu Gyeabour on Thursday January 13, 2011 quashed the Gonjaland Traditional Council’s purported de-skinment of Buipe-Wura Abdulai Jinapor II as the chief of Buipe, district capital of the Central Gonja District.
The court described the decision as illegal and slapped a Gh¢4,000 fine on the Gonjaland Traditional Council for causing emotional stress to Buipe-Wura Abdulai Jinapor II and an additional Gh¢ 2,400 charge for the expenses incurred during the court proceedings.
By the court’s decision, Buipe-Wura Abdulai Jinapor II remains the legitimate chief of the Buipe traditional area.
Lawyer Issah Mahamoud for the Buipe-Wura told Citi News his client was delighted with the court’s decision and hoped it would lay to rest any lingering doubts about his client’s claim to the Buipe skin.
He said the Gonjaland Traditional Council’s decision breached the principles of natural justice and as well amounted to a sin against the customs of the Buipe traditional area for which reason the matter was taken to court for appropriate redress. Mr Issah Mahmoud had earlier filed a motion at the court to prevent the Council from performing any functions of the Buipe-Wura while the case was before the court
Dr. Abdulai Jinapor, senior son of Buipe-Wura Abdulai Jinapor witnessed the court proceedings. Citi News gathered that the Judge, His Lordship Kwame Ansu Gyeabour has rich experience in handling such chieftaincy cases with particular reference to the Tuobodom chieftaincy dispute which he presided over before he was transferred to the Tamale High Court.
It will be recalled that, the Gonjaland Traditional Council on May 13, 2010 reportedly de-skinned Abdulai Mahama Jinapor II as the Buipe-Wura for alleged insubordination and disrespect. Following that decision, the embattled Buipe-Wura's legal team led by Mohammed Alhassan filed an order of certiorari at a Tamale High Court restraining the Council from en-skinning his successor.
Source: citifmoline
