Abdul-Wahab Hanan and wife, Faiza Seidu Wuni
A High Court in Accra yesterday granted former Chief Executive Officer of National Food and Buffer Stock Company Limited (NAFCO), Hanan Abdul-Wahab Aludiba and his wife, Faiza Seidu Wuni, a total of GH¢150 million bail in connection with allegations they stole GH¢78 million from the state.
While Abdul-Wahab was granted a bail of GH¢100 million with six sureties, four of whom must be justified, the wife was granted a bail of GH¢50 million with four sureties, three of whom must be justified with landed property within the jurisdiction of the court.
Both were ordered by the court, presided over by Justice Audrey Kocuvie-Tay, to deposit their passports at the court’s registry and were placed on the Stop List at all entry points of the country.
The two, together with Richard Sam-Asante, who is said to be on the run; the Ludiba Foundation and Energy Partners Limited, two companies related to the couple, have been charged by the Attorney General for allegedly stealing money from the state through a criminal enterprise.
The five are facing 24 counts of charges of stealing, fraudulently causing financial loss to the state, abetment of stealing, money laundering, defrauding by false pretences, intentional dissipation of public funds, using public office for profit, dishonestly receiving and intentionally causing financial loss to the state.
According to the charge sheet, Mr. Abdul-Wahab allegedly stole GH¢50.879 million from NAFCO by transferring it to James Tieku-Apawu operating under the name Sawtina Enterprise between February 2017 and February 2025.
Faiza Seidu Wuni allegedly laundered a total of GH¢34,608,834.62 knowing at the time of taking the money that it was acquired through a criminal enterprise.
She is also accused of dishonestly receiving GH¢4,401,831.58 from NAFCO between 2018 and 2023, knowing very well that the money was appropriated through stealing.
Richard Sam-Asante, on the other hand, has been charged for conspiring to steal GH¢5,495.748.36 from NAFCO between February 2017 and February 2019.
Bail Plea
Hanan Abdul-Wahab and Faiza Seidu Wuni appeared before the court yesterday and pleaded not guilty to all the charges levelled against them.
Their lawyer, Joseph Dindiok Kpemka, pleaded with the court to grant them bail pending the trial, assuring it that the accused will make themselves available for the trial on any day and time the court chooses.
He said the couple have “very young children who will need the daily guidance and care of their parents.”
Mr. Kpemka further told the court that as a temporary reprieve, the conditions for bail as by law, should not amount to a refusal, especially considering the fact that the prosecution in enumerating the facts and the charges, never gave any indication that the accused persons during investigations engaged in conducts that show they are not ready to appear for the trial.
No Opposition
Deputy Attorney General, Dr. Justice Srem-Sai did not oppose the grant of bail but told the court to consider the gravity of the offence and the fact that Abdul-Wahab is a man of substantial means, therefore making him a high flight risk.
Justice Kocuvie-Tay granted the two bail with varying terms and ordered the sureties to deposit copies of their Ghana Card as well as their Digital Addresses with the court’s registry.
The prosecution was ordered to file disclosures on or before November 27, 2025, for case management conference.
Allegations
Court documents indicate that the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) received tipoffs that Abdul-Wahab has, over the eight years that he was the CEO of NAFCO, embezzled hundreds of millions of Ghana Cedis from NAFCO and used the embezzled monies to acquire vast estates and businesses across the country and elsewhere.
The brief facts indicate that EOCO’s preliminary investigations revealed that almost GH¢78 million had moved from the bank accounts of NAFCO to Sawtina, and that these funds were transferred in a series of 86 transactions between October 2019 and September 2023.
It further indicates that the transfers were made from NAFCO into Sawtina’s bank account with the Republic Bank, Labone branch, where Abdul-Wahab maintains several bank accounts with the same bank relationship officer managing all the accounts.
The Attorney General says the relationship officer will testify for the prosecution in the course of the trial.
Subsequent investigations revealed that somewhere 2018, James Tieku-Apawu, the then Regional Manager at NAFCO, approached Abdul-Wahab and informed him of his desire to buy and supply foodstuff to NAFCO and he agreed.
Abdul-Wahab allegedly had James Tieku-Apawu’s business – Sawtina – quickly approved as a licensed buying company and immediately started trading with NAFCO.
Under interrogation, Tieku-Apawu allegedly admitted receiving a total of GH¢69,616,226.29 from NAFCO into Sawtina’s bank account, court documents point out.
“He, however, explained that only about 20% of that amount was for genuine supplies he made to NAFCO,” while EOCO’s investigations reveal that the remaining 80% of the bank transfers was for no supplies.
Investigations have established that more than GH¢50 million was transferred from Sawtina’s bank account back to Abdul-Wahab directly, to his other businesses, to his wife’s businesses, and for the acquisition of landed properties in prime areas in Accra.
The document further indicate that Abdul-Wahab allegedly caused GH¢4,401,831.58 to be paid from NAFCO’s funds to Alqarni Enterprise although the company which is the personal trading name of his wife, Faiza Seidu Wuni, never supplied foodstuff to NAFCO.
BY Gibril Abdul Razak