The High Court in Accra has granted bail to Mr Hanan Abdul-Wahab Aludiba, former Chief Executive Officer of the National Food Buffer Stock Company Limited (NAFCO), and his wife, Faiza Seidu Wuni, who are facing trial over alleged corruption and financial-related offences.
The Court admitted Mr Aludiba to bail in the sum of GH¢60 million with two justified sureties, while Madam Wuni was granted bail in the sum of GH¢3.5 million, also with two justified sureties.
The accused persons pleaded not guilty to a revised 20-count charge sheet filed by the Office of the Attorney General.
As part of measures to ensure their availability throughout the trial, the Court imposed a number of bail conditions on the accused persons.
The Court directed that the accused persons be placed on a stop list at all entry and exit points across the country to prevent them from travelling outside Ghana while the case remains pending.
Additionally, the Court ordered the accused persons to surrender their passports to the Registry of the Court.
They are also required to report to the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) once every two weeks as part of their bail obligations.
The Court further ruled that the accused persons would continue to remain under the existing EOCO bail conditions pending full compliance with the fresh terms imposed by the High Court.
According to the Court, the accused persons might not immediately satisfy the new bail conditions, particularly regarding the provision of justified sureties and other administrative requirements tied to their release.
The Court consequently gave the accused persons up to May 21, 2026, to fully satisfy the bail conditions.
The Court also directed the prosecution to file all outstanding witness statements and disclosures within seven days.
The accused persons were further ordered to file a list of witnesses they intended to rely on in their defence, should they be called upon to open their defence during the trial.
The matter has been adjourned to May 28, 2026, for a Case Management Conference (CMC).
Earlier, an issue arose over the participation of an EOCO officer as part of the prosecution team.
Mr Godfred Yeboah Dame, counsel for Mr Aludiba, challenged the capacity of the officer to participate in the prosecution, arguing that under Article 88 of the Constitution and the Law Officers Act, only the Attorney-General, officers within the Attorney-General’s Department, or persons properly authorised by law could conduct criminal prosecutions on behalf of the Republic.
Dr Justice Srem-Sai, Deputy Attorney-General, opposed the objection and argued that official acts were presumed to have been regularly performed unless proven otherwise.
The Court held that once the authority of a lawyer to prosecute on behalf of the State was challenged, the burden rested on the prosecution to establish the legal basis for such participation.
After being shown the Executive Instrument appointing public prosecutors, the Court ruled that the EOCO officer was duly authorised to form part of the prosecution team.
The case forms part of ongoing investigations and prosecutions into alleged financial irregularities and the handling of public resources at NAFCO, a state institution responsible for managing strategic food reserves and supporting food security interventions across the country.
By: Emmanuel Botsoe / businesspostonline
