Accra: Ghanaweb has learned that the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) has re-arrested former Chief Executive Officer of the National Food and Buffer Stock Company (NAFCo), Hanan Abdul-Wahab Aludiba, and his wife, Faiza Wuni, shortly after the Attorney-General formally withdrew all charges against them in an ongoing criminal prosecution.
According to Ghana Web, the development, which happened on Tuesday, May 5, 2026, brought proceedings at the High Court to an abrupt end but immediately reignited controversy over the state's handling of the case. Lawyers for the accused persons strongly criticised the move, describing it as an abuse of prosecutorial discretion.
Counsel for the second accused, Augustine Obuor, argued that the case had been pursued almost to its conclusion and warned that any attempt by the Attorney-General to refile or continue the matter in another court would amount to an abuse of process. He stated that if the state intended to pursue different charges, it should have amended them instead of withdrawing the case entirely. He stressed that prosecutorial discretion must be exercised in line with the rights of the accused.
Similarly, counsel for the first accused, Godfred Yeboah Dame, questioned the approach taken by the prosecution. He indicated that the defence would not oppose the withdrawal, describing it as a form of reprieve. He, subsequently, expressed concern about the re-arrest. Dame remarked that the proper approach should involve thorough investigations rather than hastily bringing the accused persons before the court without sufficient evidence.
Deputy Attorney-General, Justice Srem Sai, has not publicly detailed the reasons behind the withdrawal of charges, leaving questions about the state's next steps and the future of the case.
The charges, filed at the High Court in Accra on October 28, 2025, spanned multiple offences, including stealing, money laundering, defrauding by false pretence, fraudulently and intentionally causing financial loss to the Republic, using public office for profit, and the intentional dissipation of public funds. Hanan Abdul-Wahab Aludiba was accused of stealing GHS50,879,210 from NAFCO under the guise of payments to Sawtina Enterprise. Hanan and Richard Sam-Asante allegedly caused NAFCO to lose GHS50,879,210 through fraudulent payments to Sawtina Enterprise.
Faiza Seidu Wuni allegedly received GHS13,213,501.52 from Hanan, knowing it was proceeds of crime. She also allegedly took GHS500,000 from Sawtina Enterprise, knowing it was criminally obtained. Faiza and Hanan allegedly used GHS16,493,501.52 in the FA-Hausa Ventures account, knowing it was acquired through criminal means.