Hanan Abdul-Wahab’s lawyers demand return of cash, phones and passport after EOCO release
In a letter dated July 9, 2026, addressed to the Attorney-General and EOCO, the lawyers said the continued retention of the items was unlawful.
Lawyers for former National Food Buffer Stock Company Chief Executive Officer, Hanan Abdul-Wahab, have demanded the return of his personal belongings after his release from the custody of the Economic and Organised Crime Office.
The items include two mobile phones, cash, his passport and other personal effects allegedly taken from him after his arrest at the Accra International Airport.
In a letter dated July 9, 2026, addressed to the Attorney-General and EOCO, the lawyers said the continued retention of the items was unlawful.
They warned that they may take legal action if the belongings are not released.
Mr Abdul-Wahab was arrested on July 4 while preparing to travel to the United Kingdom for what his lawyers say was a scheduled medical appointment.
He was first detained by the Bureau of National Investigations and later by EOCO.
He was released on the night of July 8 without conditions.
According to his lawyers, he had on him two mobile phones and three envelopes containing money borrowed for his travel and medical treatment.
The letter said the envelopes contained £5,000, £1,700 and GH¢12,750.
The lawyers said their client was asked to report to EOCO on July 9 to collect his belongings.
However, they claim he was given only an empty purse, a wristwatch and his boarding pass.
They alleged that the investigating officer told him he had not been authorised to release the cash and the two mobile phones.
“We note, with serious concern, that EOCO continues to unlawfully retain the properties belonging to our client. We hereby demand the immediate release of the two mobile phones and the money seized from our client together with all other items unlawfully held in your custody,” the lawyers said.
They also demanded a full account of any data allegedly accessed from the phones.
The lawyers argued that the seized money was meant solely for Mr Abdul-Wahab’s travel and medical care.
They said it was not connected to any account alleged to have been frozen.
The legal team further accused EOCO of accessing data on the mobile phones without a court order while their client was in custody.
According to the letter, the phones were allegedly accessed on July 6 and July 7.
The lawyers said the alleged access amounted to a serious violation of Mr Abdul-Wahab’s right to privacy under Article 18(2) of the 1992 Constitution.
They also challenged the continued retention of his passport.
According to them, a High Court order issued on June 29, 2026, permitted Mr Abdul-Wahab to travel outside the country and directed that the passport be returned to the court registrar upon his return.
They argued that keeping the passport without a court order violates Article 21(4) of the Constitution.
The demand comes after EOCO rearrested Mr Abdul-Wahab following the Attorney-General’s withdrawal of earlier charges against him and other accused persons over what the State described as fresh evidence.
His lawyers, led by former Attorney-General Godfred Yeboah Dame, are insisting that all seized items be returned immediately.
“We hope we will not be compelled to resort to unnecessary litigation,” they stated.
