The Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) has formally apologised to the Adentan High Court for delays in responding to an application filed by former Chief Executive Officer of the National Buffer Stock Company, Abdul Wahab Hanan Aludiba, seeking the release of his frozen assets.
Mr Hanan has challenged EOCO’s freezing orders on a number of his properties, arguing that they were legitimately acquired years before his appointment as Buffer Stock CEO in 2017. The assets were frozen under a court directive as part of ongoing investigations into alleged financial crimes.
Among the properties in contention is a three-bedroom house in Tamale, which EOCO alleges is linked to criminal activity. However, Mr Hanan insists the property was purchased in 2013 and even hosted his Islamic marriage that same year, four years before he assumed public office.
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His challenge also covers three parcels of undeveloped land and an uncompleted building, which he claims were unlawfully frozen. He further argues that the actions of EOCO breach his constitutional rights, including the rights to property ownership, privacy, fair hearing, and the presumption of innocence.
At proceedings on Thursday, December 18, 2025, counsel for EOCO, led by Brew-Sam Esq., told the court that internal “administrative bottlenecks” caused the delay, noting that their response was only filed a day before the hearing. EOCO therefore requested an adjournment to allow Mr Hanan’s legal team sufficient time to review the documents once properly served.
The court granted the request and adjourned the case to January 20, 2026, for a substantive hearing.
Meanwhile, developments in the related criminal prosecution have sparked further scrutiny of the State’s preparedness.
In the case titled Republic v. Hanan Abdul-Wahab Aludiba and Three Others, the Attorney-General, Dr Dominic Ayine, is yet to file trial disclosures—nearly three months after charges including stealing, money laundering, and causing financial loss to the state were filed.
When the case was called on Tuesday, December 16, 2025, the prosecution had still not submitted witness statements and other required disclosures. Under criminal procedure, disclosures are essential to enable the accused persons to adequately prepare their defence.
Counsel for Mr Hanan, Richard Gyambiby of Dame and Partners, stated that his client is ready to stand trial.
“We firmly believe in the innocence of our client and will mount a zealous defence,” he said, adding that the prosecution must prove beyond a reasonable doubt any allegations of abuse of office or financial wrongdoing