A-G moves to set aside Hanan Abdul-Wahab’s travel permit

The Attorney-General has asked the High Court to cancel the travel permission granted to former Chief Executive Officer of the National Food Buffer Stock Company, Hanan Abdul-Wahab Aludiba.

The application comes after the State raised concerns that Mr Aludiba allegedly attempted to access funds in a bank account that remains under a freezing order.

Mr Aludiba is standing trial on charges of stealing and causing financial loss to the state.

In the affidavit supporting the application, the Attorney-General argues that the accused allegedly sought to rely on an order from a differently constituted High Court in separate proceedings to access funds held in frozen accounts.

The accounts are said to be subject to valid freezing orders obtained by the Economic and Organised Crime Office.

According to the Attorney-General, the attempted withdrawal violated Section 37 of the Economic and Organised Crime Act, 2010, Act 804.

The State says the financial institution involved declined the transaction and alerted investigative authorities.

The Attorney-General further argues that the alleged attempt happened shortly before Mr Aludiba was due to leave Ghana.

The State says this raised legitimate concerns about his compliance with existing court orders, the integrity of the ongoing criminal trial and the risk that he may not return to stand trial if allowed to travel.

The Attorney-General also contends that these facts were not before the court when the travel permit was granted.

According to the application, the new information may materially affect the court’s decision on whether Mr Aludiba should be allowed to leave the jurisdiction.

Mr Aludiba was arrested at the Kotoka International Airport on July 4 while preparing to travel to London under a court order permitting him to leave Ghana for medical treatment.

Deputy Attorney-General Dr Justice Srem-Sai later said in a Facebook post that the arrest was linked to an alleged attempt to use false means to empty a frozen bank account with Republic Bank.

He said the Attorney-General would return to court to seek a review of the travel order.

Mr Aludiba’s lawyers have rejected the allegation.

His counsel, former Attorney-General Godfred Yeboah Dame, described the claims made by Dr Srem-Sai as false.

The defence team has also threatened contempt proceedings against the Attorney-General, the Deputy Attorney-General and the Director of the Bureau of National Investigations.

They argue that the arrest violated a High Court order that had permitted Mr Aludiba to travel.

The lawyers have also filed a habeas corpus application seeking an order compelling the Director of the Bureau of National Investigations and the Attorney-General to produce Mr Aludiba before the High Court.

The application also seeks compliance with the June 29 order that granted him permission to travel for medical treatment.

That motion is expected to be moved on Friday, July 10, 2026.