EOCO returns Hanan’s £6,700, GH¢2,750 and devices after defence challenge

The Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) has returned £6,700, GH¢2,750, two laptop computers and at least six mobile phones seized from former Ghana Buffer Stock Company CEO Hanan Abdul Wahab Hanan, his wife, Hajia Faiza Wuni, and their driver.

The three are standing trial in a financial crimes case involving allegations of offences against the state.

Some of the items were seized during investigations in 2025, while the cash, one laptop and two mobile phones were seized on July 4, 2026, when Mr Hanan was arrested at the airport and detained for four days.

He had been due to travel abroad for medical purposes under a court order.

At the latest hearing on September 29, 2026, the prosecution indicated its readiness to call its first witness.

However, lead counsel for Mr Hanan, former Attorney-General and Minister for Justice Godfred Yeboah Dame, argued that the trial could not proceed unless the seized items were first returned.

He said the mobile phones contained information that was critical to the defence’s preparation for trial.

Mr Dame had filed a motion seeking an order compelling EOCO to release the items.

“The phones contain information necessary for the conduct of the trial and related to matters that are central to the subject matter of the proceedings.

“We need them to enable the first accused to prepare adequately for his defence, including raising objections to documents to be tendered by the prosecution, in accordance with Article 19(2)(e) and (g) of the 1992 Constitution,” he said.

Counsel for the second accused, Faizal Wuni, Augustine Obour, also told the court that his client had requested the release of her electronic devices.

He said the devices would form part of the basis of her defence.

The prosecution argued that the trial could proceed while the court determined the application for the release of the seized items.

The trial court, presided over by Justice Francis Achibonga, however, held that the prosecution could not commence its case or call its first witness until the application for the release of the phones and other property had been determined.

The court noted that counsel for the first accused might need access to the phones to adequately prepare his defence.

Following the proceedings, EOCO released the items to the accused persons on Monday, October 5, 2026.

Lawyers’ Petition Against EOCO

The return of the items follows a petition by lawyers for Mr Hanan, Messrs Dame & Partners, to the EOCO Executive Director, Raymond Archer, and the Attorney-General, Dr Dominic Ayine.

The lawyers asked the authorities to return what they described as their client’s property, which they said had been retained without legal justification.

According to the lawyers, when Mr Hanan reported to EOCO on July 9, 2026, to collect his belongings, he was handed an empty purse, a wristwatch and his boarding pass.

The lawyers said the investigating officer, Frank Cromwell, informed him that he had no authorisation to release the remaining items.

Those items, according to the petition, included two mobile phones and three envelopes containing £5,000, £1,700 and GH¢2,750.

“On 9th July 2026, when my client reported to EOCO to collect his items, he was handed an empty purse, a wristwatch and his boarding pass.

“The investigating officer, Frank Cromwell, reportedly informed him that he had no authorisation to release the remaining items, which included two mobile phones and three separate envelopes containing £5,000, £1,700, and GH¢2,750 respectively.”

Mr Dame said the cash belonged to his client and had been borrowed specifically to cover travel and medical expenses.

The defence also accused EOCO officials of violating Mr Hanan’s constitutional right to privacy.

The lawyers alleged that data on the two seized mobile phones was accessed without judicial authorisation on July 6 and July 7, 2026, while Mr Hanan remained in state custody.

They further argued that EOCO’s continued retention of his passport was contrary to a High Court order dated June 29, 2026.

According to the defence, the court had released the passport to facilitate his medical travel and directed that it be returned to the Registrar of the High Court upon his return.

The lawyers demanded a full account of the data allegedly accessed from the phones and threatened further legal action if the items were not released.

Withdrawal of Charges and Challenges to Prosecution’s Case

The return of the items comes against the backdrop of several developments in the prosecution of Mr Hanan.

In May 2026, the prosecution withdrew the initial charges against him before he was subsequently re-arraigned on new charges.

The prosecution also withdrew a significant portion of evidence previously presented to the court.

The new charges subsequently faced challenges from Mr Dame, who argued that aspects of the charge sheet were defective, leading to further amendments.

The latest dispute over the seized cash and electronic devices adds another development to the ongoing trial, as the prosecution prepares to present its case.