The trial of former National Food and Buffer Stock Company (NAFCO) Chief Executive Officer, Hanan Abdul-Wahab Aludiba, and his co-accused has been delayed. The court ruled that additional time is required to examine electronic devices seized by the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO). The trial was expected to begin with the examination-in-chief of the first prosecution witness but will now commence later this month.
The accused persons face multiple charges, including stealing, defrauding by false pretences, wilfully causing financial loss to the Republic, using public office for profit, dishonestly receiving, and money laundering. EOCO returned several items seized from the accused persons and their drivers on October 5, 2026. The items included £6,700, GH¢2,750, two laptop computers, and at least six mobile phones.
Some of the items were seized during investigations in 2025, while the money, one laptop, and two mobile phones were seized on July 4, 2026. On that day, Mr Aludiba was arrested at the airport and detained for four days. At the previous hearing on September 29, 2026, lawyers for the accused argued that they had not been given sufficient time to access the contents of the phones and other devices to adequately prepare their defence.
Lead counsel for Mr Aludiba, former Attorney-General Godfred Yeboah Dame, told the court that the phones contained information relevant to the proceedings and necessary for the preparation of his client’s defence. The information in the phones is central to the subject matter of the proceedings. Access to the devices is necessary to enable the first accused to prepare objections to documents the prosecution intends to tender in evidence.
Counsel for the second accused, Augustine Obour, also told the court that his client had requested the release of her electronic gadgets. These would form the basis of an objection by the defence. The prosecution, represented by Principal State Attorney Esi Denta Yanka, opposed the request to delay the start of the trial. The case had already been scheduled for the examination-in-chief of the first prosecution witness.
Justice Francis Apangabuno Achibonga, however, held that the application concerning the seized properties had to be determined before the trial could proceed. The judge said where counsel for the first accused required the phones to adequately prepare the defence, that preparation could include enabling the accused to object to evidence the prosecution seeks to tender.
The case is expected to return later this month, with the prosecution set to call its first witness once the court has resolved the outstanding issues concerning the seized properties. The return of the seized items followed a petition submitted by Mr Aludiba’s lawyers to EOCO Executive Director Raymond Archer and Attorney-General Dominic Ayine.
Key points
- The trial of former NAFCO CEO Hanan Abdul-Wahab Aludiba has been delayed to allow his lawyers access to seized electronic devices.
- The accused persons face multiple charges, including stealing and money laundering.
- The court must resolve the issue of the seized properties before the trial can proceed.
