Hanan Abdul-Wahab
Former Chief Executive Officer of National Food Buffer Stock Company Limited (NAFCO), Hanan Abdul-Wahab Aludiba, has been released unconditionally from the custody of Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO), where he had spent four days and five nights following his arrest at the Accra International Airport.
His release followed persistent pressure mounted by his lawyer, Godfred Yeboah Dame, who criticised the arrest and described it as a deliberate attempt to thwart the permission granted to his client by a High Court, to travel to London for medical appointment.
A source close to the matter indicated that the former Attorney General had threatened that his client would refuse to comply with outrageous conditions imposed by the Attorney General (AG), EOCO and the Bureau of National Intelligence (BNI) and that he would rather remain in custody until the court sets him free.
Mr. Aludiba was subsequently released at about 8 p.m. on July 8 from EOCO custody without any conditions.
The source further indicated that the former NAFCO boss was not even made to sign any document at all, raising further serious questions about the basis for his arrest and detention when he was already on a court granted bail.
Rearrest
Mr. Aludiba is standing trial with his wife, Faiza Seidu Wuni, for allegedly stealing and causing financial loss to the state totalling GH¢62.6 million.
He was arrested at the airport in the late hours of July 4 when he attempted to travel to the United Kingdom for a medical reason.
Deputy Attorney General, Dr. Justice Srem-Sai, in a Facebook post, confirmed the arrest and claimed Mr. Aludiba, who was granted permission by the trial court to travel, attempted “to use false means to empty his frozen bank account with Republic Bank on Thursday, which occasioned tonight’s arrest.”
His legal team, led by former Attorney General, Godfred Yeboah Dame, sharply denied the allegation and threatened to initiate contempt of court proceeding against the AG and the BNI Director for thwarting the orders of the court which permitted him to travel to London for medical reasons.
The lawyers subsequently filed an application for Habeas Corpus asking the court to compel the Attorney General, BNI and EOCO to produce his body following his Rambo-style arrest at the Accra International Airport.
An affidavit in support of the application sworn to by his wife, Faiza Seidu Wuni, avers that the embattled former government appointee was denied access to counsel and his family since his arrest in the late hours of July 4, 2026.
His lawyers argue that the arrest and subsequent detention were merely calculated to defeat the orders of a High Court which had granted him leave to travel for medical treatment.
They further contend that the arrest at the airport was unlawful and in breach of Mr. Aludiba’s fundamental rights as both the manner of the arrest and the reason subsequently assigned for same violate the constitution.
Legal Battle
Mr. Aludiba has been at the centre of legal battle after he was arrested and charged for allegedly stealing and causing financial loss to the state.
He and his wife, Faiza Seidu Wuni, are facing a total of 20 charges, including defrauding by false pretences, stealing, wilfully causing financial loss to the state, money laundering, using public office for profit, dishonestly receiving and intentionally causing financial loss to the state.
The two were discharged by a High Court on May 5, 2026, following a decision by the Attorney General to drop all charges against them as a result of the discovery of new evidence.
They were later rearraigned on May 15, 2025, after the Attorney General filed new charges sheet.
The court has concluded case management conference and the prosecution is set to call its first witness on July 15, 2026, barring any unforeseen circumstances.
BY Gibril Abdul Razak