By Grace Zigah
Fresh cracks have emerged in the prosecution of the high-profile National Food and Buffer Stock Company (NAFCO) case after the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) formally apologized to the Adentan High Court for delays in responding to an application seeking to unfreeze properties belonging to former NAFCO Chief Executive, Abdul-Wahab Hanan AludibaAbdul-Wahab Hanan Aludiba.
The apology came on Thursday, December 18, 2025, when lawyers for EOCO admitted they had failed to file their response to Hanan’s application within the time ordered by the court.
The application challenges freezing orders placed on several properties EOCO claims are linked to alleged crimes committed during his tenure as CEO.
Asset Freeze Amid Corruption Trial
EOCO froze multiple properties belonging to Hanan in September 2025 after securing a court order on grounds that the assets were suspected to be proceeds of crime.
The move formed part of broader investigations into alleged financial impropriety at NAFCO, where Hanan served as CEO from 2017.
Hanan, who is facing 24 criminal charges alongside his wife and other accused persons—including stealing, money laundering, and causing financial loss to the state—has consistently denied all allegations.
Through his lawyers, Hanan has argued that several of the frozen properties were lawfully acquired years before he assumed public office and therefore cannot be linked to the alleged offences.
Properties at the Center of the Dispute
Among the assets under dispute is a three-bedroom house in Tamale, which EOCO has cited as evidence of criminal enrichment.
However, Hanan insists the property was completed in 2013, four years before his appointment as CEO, and even served as the venue for his Islamic marriage ceremony that same year.
He is also contesting the freezing of three undeveloped parcels of land and an uncompleted building, maintaining that some of the properties do not belong to him at all, while others predate both his appointment and the period under investigation.
Hanan argues that the freezing orders violate his constitutional rights, including the right to own property, the right to privacy, the right to a fair hearing, and the presumption of innocence, as guaranteed under the 1992 Constitution.
EOCO’s Apology And Request For Adjournment
At last Thursday’s sitting, Brew-Sam Esq., lead counsel for EOCO, told the court that “administrative bottlenecks” within the investigative body had prevented the timely filing of their response.
He disclosed that EOCO only managed to file its affidavit a day before the court appearance.
On that basis, EOCO prayed the court for an adjournment to allow Hanan’s legal team sufficient time to be properly served and to study the response.
The court accepted the explanation, granted the request, and adjourned the matter to January 20, 2026, when the application to unfreeze the assets is expected to be heard.
Attorney-General
The delays at EOCO come amid growing scrutiny of the Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Dr. Dominic Ayine, over his handling of the substantive criminal case.
As of mid-December 2025—three months after charges were filed—the Attorney-General has reportedly failed to file the required trial disclosures, including witness statements and documentary evidence, despite court timelines.
This omission became apparent when the case of Republic v. Abdul-Wahab Hanan Aludiba and Others was called on Tuesday, December 16, 2025, and the prosecution was unable to confirm readiness to proceed.
Under the criminal procedure rules, disclosures are mandatory to enable the defence to adequately prepare for trial.
Defence: We Are Ready for Trial
Reacting to the situation, Richard Gyambiby, a lawyer with Dame and Partners representing Hanan, said his client is fully prepared to face trial and has been waiting for the prosecution to meet its obligations.
“We firmly believe in the innocence of our client and will mount a zealous defence in his favour. The prosecution bears the burden of proving beyond reasonable doubt that Hanan abused his office and caused loss to the Republic,” Mr. Gyambiby stated.
He added that the alleged acts could not have occurred under the internal accountability systems that were in place at NAFCO during Hanan’s tenure.
Meanwhile, sources close to EOCO have privately admitted that the prosecution is facing significant evidential hurdles, particularly with witness testimony.
According to one source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, the confidence projected at the Attorney-General’s October 22, 2025 press conference—dubbed the “Rumble in the Jungle”—has since waned.
At that media briefing, Dr. Ayine outlined what he described as an elaborate scheme involving theft, laundering of public funds, and the acquisition of real estate and luxury assets.
Days later, on October 28, he announced that 24 charges had been filed against Hanan and his wife.
However, the source said assembling evidence that can withstand judicial scrutiny has proven difficult.
“What we thought was foolproof is no longer foolproof. Prosecution is about evidence, and that is where the challenge lies,” the source revealed.
