The Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) has handed back seized assets to Hanan Abdul, the former Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Buffer Stock Company, his wife Hajia Faiza Wuni, and their driver. The returned items include £6,700, GH¢2,750, two laptop computers, and at least six mobile phones. This development clears the way for the prosecution to call its first witness in the case against Hanan, who is standing trial on financial crime charges.
The dispute over the seized assets reached a head at a hearing on 29 September 2026, when the prosecution signalled it was ready to call its first witness. However, lead defence counsel Godfred Dame objected, arguing that the trial could not begin unless the seized property was handed back. Dame cited constitutional protections under Article 19(2) and stated that the mobile phones held information central to the defence case.
The presiding judge, Justice Francis Achibonga, sided with the defence, ruling that the trial could not start without first resolving the question of the seized phones and other property. This decision marked a significant setback for the prosecution, which had pushed for the trial to proceed while a separate motion on the seized items was decided later.
The seized assets were taken on 4 July 2026, when Hanan was arrested at the airport and detained for four days, despite a High Court order permitting him to travel abroad for medical treatment. Some of the property had been seized during investigations in 2025. The return of the assets is a crucial development in the case, which has experienced several delays and setbacks.
This is not the first setback for EOCO in this case. Earlier in 2026, the prosecution withdrew all charges against Hanan after they were described by legal commentators as "unprosecutable". The case has been ongoing for several months, with both sides engaging in legal wrangling.
The return of the seized assets is expected to facilitate the trial's progression. The defence team had argued that the mobile phones and laptops were essential for preparing their defence, and the prosecution had indicated it was ready to proceed with its case. The trial's restart is significant, as it will determine the fate of Hanan and his co-defendants.
The case against Hanan Abdul and his wife Hajia Faiza Wuni is ongoing, with the prosecution yet to present its case. The return of the seized assets marks a crucial step towards the trial's progression. The outcome of the case will have significant implications for the accused and the Ghanaian public.
Key points
- EOCO returns seized assets to Hanan Abdul ahead of trial restart
- The trial's progression was delayed due to a dispute over the seized assets
- The case against Hanan Abdul has experienced several setbacks, including the withdrawal of charges earlier in 2026
