The wife of former National Food Buffer Stock Company (NAFCO) Chief Executive Officer, Hanan Abdul-Wahab Aludiba, has filed an urgent habeas corpus application at the High Court in Accra, demanding that the state disclose his whereabouts and secure his immediate release following his arrest at the Kotoka International Airport.
Hajia Faiza Seidu Wuni filed the application on Monday, July 6, 2026, at the High Court’s Specialised Court, asking the court to compel the Director of the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI) and the Attorney-General to produce her husband and justify the legality of his continued detention.
According to her sworn affidavit, Abdul-Wahab, who is currently standing trial on charges of stealing and causing financial loss to the state, had been granted permission by the High Court on June 29 to travel to London for medical treatment for a worsening eye condition. The court order required him to depart on or before July 4 and return to Ghana by July 14.
The application states that Abdul-Wahab successfully completed all pre-departure formalities, including clearance by the Ghana Immigration Service, before he was intercepted by armed men who identified themselves as officers of the Bureau of National Investigations and escorted him away without explanation.
His wife further alleges that he was denied the opportunity to speak with his lawyer following the arrest. She says the family spent several hours contacting various security agencies, all of which initially denied having him in custody, before they were informed the following day that he was being held at the BNI headquarters at Ridge in Accra.
According to the affidavit, Hajia Faiza later attempted to deliver food to her husband but was turned away after officers informed her that visitors were not allowed during weekends. She also claims that lawyers representing Abdul-Wahab were denied access to him, with officials reportedly citing a lack of authorisation.
The arrest sparked public reaction after Deputy Attorney-General Dr. Justice Srem-Sai disclosed in a Facebook post that Abdul-Wahab had been arrested following an alleged attempt to access funds in a frozen bank account through improper means. He claimed the former NAFCO CEO had attempted to withdraw funds from a Republic Bank account two days before his arrest and indicated that the Attorney-General’s Office intended to challenge the High Court’s decision permitting his medical trip abroad.
However, Hajia Faiza strongly rejects those allegations, stating in her affidavit that her husband denies any wrongdoing. She describes the claims as baseless and calls on the state to provide evidence to support the accusations.
The application argues that Abdul-Wahab’s arrest and continued detention violate his constitutional rights, including his right to personal liberty and access to legal counsel. It therefore asks the High Court to order the respondents to produce him in court so the legality of his detention can be determined.
As of the time of filing, neither the Bureau of National Investigations nor the Attorney-General’s Office had formally responded to the habeas corpus application. The case is now pending before the High Court in Accra.
