EOCO Returns Hanan’s Cash, Gadgets After Lawyers Protest

Hanan Abdul Wahab

The Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) has finally returned monies, mobile phones and laptops seized from the former Chief Executive Officer of National Food Buffer Stock Company (NAFCO), Hanan Abdul-Wahab Aludiba and his wife, Faiza Seidu Wuni, following multiple protests mounted by their lawyers.

The released items include sums of £6,700, GH¢2,750, two (2) laptop computers and at least six mobile phones seized from the couple and their driver.

Mr. Aludiba and Madam Wuni are on trial for allegedly stealing and causing financial loss to the state totalling GH¢62.6 million.

The two have pleaded not guilty to charges including defrauding by false pretences, willfully causing financial loss to the state, stealing, using public office for profit, intentional dissipation of public funds and money laundering.

EOCO had seized multiple gadgets from the couple and their driver following their arrest in 2025.

The monies, a laptop and two mobile phones were seized on July 4, 2026, when Mr. Aludiba was arrested at the Accra International Airport, when he tried to travel to the United Kingdom for medical reasons.

He was detained for four (4) days and prevented from travelling abroad although a court had granted him permission to do so.

Initial Order

The court had previously ordered EOCO to release the gadgets to the couple and their driver following an application by their lawyers.

But that order fell on deaf ears as the Office failed to release the items to the accused and their driver.

New Application

Former Attorney General, Godfred Yeboah Dame, counsel for Aludiba, had filed another application asking the court to order the prosecution to release the gadgets to the accused to aid them in preparing their defence.

This resulted in the court adjourning the trial to today, thereby preventing the Attorney General from calling his first witness in the trial.

“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 (Mr. Aludiba) 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,” Mr. Dame said on September 29.

He added that “it cannot be doubted as set out in the relevant provision that an accused person ought to be afforded adequate time and facilities for the preparations of his defence.”

Augustines Obour, counsel for Madam Wuni, also informed the court that his client had requested the release of her electronic gadgets, which he said, would form the basis of his defence.

Esi Dentaa Yankah, a Principal State Attorney, had argued that the pendency of the application should not hinder the prosecution from commencing its case, noting that the defence will have adequate time to cross-examine the witness.

The trial judge, Justice Francis Achibonga, said Mr. Aludiba may need the alleged seized phones to enable him prepare adequately for his defence, pointing out that an accused person has right to object to any evidence being offered by the prosecution.

He subsequently adjourned the case to today to hear the application asking the court to order EOCO to release the monies and the gadgets.

However, EOCO on Monday, October 5, 2026, released the items, the subject matter of the motion filed by Mr. Dame and scheduled to be determined today.

**Earlier Petition **

Mr. Dame had earlier petitioned the Executive Director of EOCO, Raymond Archer and the Attorney General, Dr. Dominic Ayine, to return his clients property which had been “unlawfully retained” without legal justification.

“On July 9, 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,” part of the petitions read.

Mr. Dame further explained that the cash in question consisted of borrowed funds meant strictly for travel and medical expenses and was not drawn from any allegedly frozen bank account.

The defence team further accused EOCO officials of invading their client’s right to privacy as guaranteed under Article 18(2) of the 1992 Constitution.

The lawyers claimed that the data on Mr. Abdul-Wahab’s two seized mobile phones was accessed without judicial authorisation on two separate occasions—specifically on July 6, 2026 and July 7, 2026, while he was still held in state custody.

The letter also noted that EOCO’s continuous retention of Mr. Abdul-Wahab’s passport violates a High Court order dated June 29, 2026.

BY Gibril Abdul Razak

The post EOCO Returns Hanan’s Cash, Gadgets After Lawyers Protest appeared first on DailyGuide Network.