Former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the National Food Buffer Stock Company (NAFCO), Hanan Abdul-Wahab Aludiba, has been re-arrested at the Accra International Airport after allegedly attempting to access and empty a frozen bank account.
The former CEO of the NAFCO is on trial for stealing and causing financial loss to the Republic, hence the frozen bank accounts.
The arrest was announced at midnight on Saturday by Deputy Attorney-General Dr. Justice Srem Sai, who disclosed that Abdul-Wahab Aludiba was apprehended by law enforcement officers just as he was preparing to leave Ghana for the United Kingdom.
According to the Deputy Attorney-General, the former NAFCO boss had earlier obtained permission from the trial High Court to travel to the UK for a short stay.
However, Justice Srem Sai said the permission was overtaken by events after the embattled former CEO allegedly attempted on Thursday to use “false means” to empty a frozen bank account held at Republic Bank.
“It was, however, Mr. Aludiba’s attempt to use false means to empty his frozen bank account with Republic Bank on Thursday which occasioned tonight’s arrest,” the Deputy Attorney-General stated.
He added that the Attorney-General will, on Monday, ask the High Court to review its decision granting Abdul Hanan’s leave to travel outside the country.
The latest development marks another dramatic twist in the high-profile prosecution of the former state agency boss, who is facing multiple criminal charges, including stealing, wilfully causing financial loss to the state, defrauding by false pretences, abuse of public office for profit and money laundering. He has denied all the charges.
The former CEO and his wife were re-arrested in May after the Attorney-General withdrew an earlier case and filed fresh charges following what prosecutors described as the discovery of new evidence.
The prosecution alleges that the offences relate to the alleged diversion of tens of millions of cedis intended for food procurement under government programmes, including the Free SHS initiative.
Saturday night’s arrest is expected to further complicate Abdul Hanan’s legal troubles, with prosecutors now seeking to prevent his departure from Ghana as the criminal trial continues.
