Hanan Abdul-Wahab’s lawyers threaten contempt action over airport arrest

The arrest of former National Food Buffer Stock Company Chief Executive Officer Hanan Abdul-Wahab at the Accra International Airport is heading for a fresh legal battle.

His lawyers say they will file contempt proceedings against the Attorney-General, the Deputy Attorney-General and the Director of the Bureau of National Investigations over the arrest.

The legal team argues that the arrest was carried out in defiance of a High Court order that had permitted Mr Abdul-Wahab to travel to the United Kingdom.

In a statement issued on Sunday, July 5, his lawyer, Godfred Yeboah Dame, accused state officials of deliberately violating the court’s order.

According to the defence, the High Court in Accra, presided over by Justice Achibonga, granted Mr Abdul-Wahab permission on June 29 to travel to the UK from July 4 to July 12.

The trip, the lawyers said, was for a scheduled medical appointment with his optician.

They said the application was heard after both the defence and the prosecution had made their arguments.

The statement noted that Deputy Attorney-General Dr Justice Srem-Sai was part of the proceedings before the court granted the travel request.

Mr Dame said it was therefore unlawful for state officials to cause the arrest of his client at the airport after the court had already authorised the trip.

The lawyers also challenged claims made by Dr Srem-Sai in a Facebook post on July 4, 2026, that the arrest was triggered by an alleged attempt to empty a frozen Republic Bank account.

Mr Dame described that claim as false.

He said the defence was not aware of any valid court order freezing Mr Abdul-Wahab’s bank accounts at the time of the arrest.

According to him, any previous freezing orders ceased to have effect after the prosecution withdrew earlier charges against Mr Abdul-Wahab on May 5, 2026, leading to his discharge.

The lawyers also referred to a ruling of the High Court at Adentan on May 20, 2026, after fresh charges were filed on May 15.

They said the court held that Mr Abdul-Wahab’s re-arrest marked a fresh process, which, in their view, meant that earlier freezing orders could not continue to operate.

Mr Dame said this position had already been communicated to the Executive Director of EOCO in a formal letter about two weeks before the airport arrest.

The legal team also rejected the allegation that Mr Abdul-Wahab tried to withdraw money from a frozen account.

“We challenge him to produce evidence of a withdrawal of any sum by our client from any of his bank accounts since the date of the court order,” the statement said.

The defence further argued that the High Court’s decision to allow Mr Abdul-Wahab to travel was consistent with established practice.

Mr Dame cited other accused persons who, according to him, had been granted permission to travel while facing trial.

They included Dr Stephen Opuni, Seidu Agongo, Alhaji Collins Dauda, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson and Dr Kwabena Duffuor.

The lawyers accused the Attorney-General’s Office of misleading the public and unlawfully directing the BNI to arrest their client on unsupported allegations.

They described the arrest as a blatant and wilful breach of a subsisting High Court order.

Mr Dame said contempt proceedings would be initiated against the Attorney-General, the Deputy Attorney-General and the Director of the BNI.