National House of Chiefs settles Bunkpurugu chieftaincy dispute, affirms Jamong family's claim
The Judicial Committee of the National House of Chiefs has ruled that the Jamong family is the only recognised royal family with the right to present candidates for the Bunkpurugu skin, bringing a longstanding chieftaincy dispute to a close.
The decision was contained in an 83-page judgment, which dismissed appeals filed by the respondents, upheld a cross-appeal by the petitioners and varied parts of an earlier ruling by the Judicial Committee of the Northern Regional House of Chiefs.
The Committee held that the evidence presented before it did not support claims that succession to the Bunkpurugu skin rotates among the Jamong, Jafok and Nampauk families.
According to the ruling, the documentary evidence before the Committee established that the Jamong family is the only royal family in Bunkpurugu, rejecting findings that the Jafok and Nampauk families also possess royal status.
The Judicial Committee also rejected claims that Lambong Tapang of the Jafok family was a legitimate Bunkpurugu Naba.
It found that the evidence showed Lambong Tapang served only as a caretaker chief between 1986 and 2005 and was never entitled to the status of a substantive Bunkpurugu Naba.
The Committee further ruled that there was no evidence to support claims that the Jamong family recognised Lambong Tapang as chief by participating in his funeral or acknowledging his authority.
As part of its final orders, the Judicial Committee directed the head and elders of the Jamong family to nominate an eligible candidate or candidates for presentation to the Nayiri for selection and enskinment as the next Bunkpurugu Naba.
It also ordered the second respondent to hand over all skin regalia and other properties in his possession to the Nayiri.
The Committee further restrained the second respondent from holding himself out or allowing himself to be presented as the Bunkpurugu Naba unless the order is set aside by a court of competent jurisdiction.