Sunyani, March 20, GNA -- The Judicial Committee of the Brong Ahafo Regional House of Chiefs has dismissed a preliminary objection raised by the Dormaahene and eight others questioning the committee's competence to sit on apetition filed against them.

The petition, in connection with the Chiraa chieftaincy dispute, is seeking a number of relieves including an order of perpetual injunction to restrain the Dormaahene and other respondents from installing one Asamoah Adjei as Chiraahene.

Arguing for the rejection of the petition, counsel for respondents, Mr W.Y. Oppong, said the committee does not have jurisdiction to entertain the petition because the chieftaincy act only allows it to adjudicate in matters involved paramount stools.

He said the Chiraa chieftaincy case is a divisional dispute and it is the Dormaa Traditional Council that is competent to sit on the petition because Chiraa is the Benkum division of the Dormaa Traditional Area.

"The Dormaahene, Osagyefo Oseadeeyor Agyeman-Badu, has nothing to do with the dispute and the petitioners only joined him to the suit to give the regional house judicial committee the jurisdiction to go into the matter.

In reply, counsel for the petitioners, Nana Obiri Boahen, said Osagyefo Agyeman Badu 11, the traditional council and its registrar helped in the clandestine and uncustomary installation of Mr Asamoah Adjei as Chiraahene.

Tracing the roots for the dispute, Nana Obiri Boahen said when the Chiraa stool became vacant in 1996, the petitioners put forward their nomination to the queenmother, Nana Kisiwaa, for consideration by the kingmakers.

He said the queenmother connived with a few kingmakers and refused to declare the nomination and rather presented Adjei who is the grandson from the Akubefiem royal house.

"All attempts by the petitioners who are from the rival Opanyin Owusu Kwadwo royal house to seek redress at the Dormaa Traditional Council were frustrated by the Dormaahene, the council and its registrar''.

This, he said, forced his clients to petition the judicial committee for justice. The committee, chaired by Nana Kwame Teno 11, Kwatwomahene, ruled that a prima facie case had been established against the respondents including the Dormaahene and dismissed their objection and slapped 100,000 cedis cost against them.