The Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) returned £6,700, GH¢2,750, two laptops, and at least six mobile phones to former Ghana Buffer Stock Company CEO Hanan Abdul Wahab Hanan, his wife Hajia Faiza Wuni, and their driver on October 5, 2026. The move came amid ongoing legal battles surrounding a financial crimes case that has drawn attention since early 2025.
Some of the property was seized during investigations in 2025. The rest—including cash, one laptop, and two mobile phones—were taken on July 4, 2026, when Mr Hanan was arrested at the airport. He was detained for four days after being stopped while trying to travel abroad for medical treatment under a court order.
At a hearing on September 29, 2026, the prosecution said it was ready to call its first witness. However, Mr Hanan’s lead counsel, former Attorney-General and Minister for Justice Godfred Yeboah Dame, argued that the trial could not begin without the return of the seized items. The defence said the mobile phones contained information critical to preparing for 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,” Mr Dame told the court. He cited Article 19(2)(e) and (g) of the 1992 Constitution, which relates to the right to information and a fair trial, to support the defence’s request.
Counsel for the second accused, Faiza Wuni, Augustine Obour, also requested the release of her client’s electronic devices. He said the devices would form part of her defence.
The prosecution argued the trial could proceed while the court decided on the application for the release of the items. Justice Francis Achibonga presiding over the case disagreed. He ruled that the prosecution could not call its first witness until the issue was settled, noting that Mr Hanan’s counsel might need access to the phones to prepare adequately.
The return of the seized property followed a petition by Messrs Dame & Partners, lawyers for Mr Hanan, to EOCO Executive Director Raymond Archer and Attorney-General Dr Dominic Ayine. The petition described the items as Mr Hanan’s property and said EOCO had retained them without legal justification.
According to the petition, when Mr Hanan reported to EOCO on July 9, 2026, to collect his belongings, he was given only an empty purse, a wristwatch, and his boarding pass. The investigating officer, Frank Cromwell, reportedly told him he had no authorization to release the remaining items, which included two mobile phones and three envelopes containing £5,000, £1,700, and GH¢2,750.
Mr Dame said the cash belonged to his client and was borrowed specifically to cover travel and medical expenses. The lawyers also accused EOCO officials of violating Mr Hanan’s constitutional right to privacy, alleging that data on the two mobile phones was accessed without judicial authorization on July 6 and 7, 2026, while Mr Hanan was in custody.
They further claimed EOCO’s continued retention of his passport violated a High Court order dated June 29, 2026. The court had released the passport to facilitate Mr Hanan’s 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 and threatened further legal action if the items were not returned.
The trial itself has faced several disruptions. In May 2026, the prosecution withdrew initial charges against Mr Hanan before re-arraigning him on new ones. They also dropped a significant portion of evidence previously presented. Mr Dame challenged the new charges, arguing that parts of the charge sheet were defective, which led to further amendments.
The recent dispute over the seized cash and devices adds another complication as the prosecution prepares to present its case. The court’s insistence on the return of the items before proceeding suggests a recognition of the defence’s need for access to evidence that may influence the trial’s direction.
According to Joy Online.
