Former Chief Executive Officer of the National Food Buffer Stock Company (NAFCO), Hanan Abdul-Wahab Aludiba, has been arrested by law enforcement officers at the Accra International Airport while attempting to travel to the United Kingdom.
The arrest was disclosed on Sunday, July 5, by Deputy Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Dr Justice Srem-Sai, in a post on his official Facebook page.
According to Dr Srem-Sai, Mr Aludiba, who is currently standing trial on charges of stealing and causing financial loss to the Republic, had earlier been granted permission by the trial High Court to travel to the UK for a few days.
However, the Deputy Attorney-General alleged that Mr Aludiba attempted to use false means to empty a frozen bank account held with Republic Bank before embarking on the trip.
“Law enforcement officers have, a while ago, arrested Mr Hanan Abdul-Wahab Aludiba at the Accra International Airport,” Dr Srem-Sai wrote.
He added: “Mr Aludiba, who is currently standing trial for stealing and causing financial loss to the Republic, was granted leave by the trial High Court to travel to the UK for a few days. 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.”
Dr Srem-Sai further disclosed that the Attorney-General will return to court on Monday to seek a review of the order that permitted Mr Aludiba to travel outside the country.
“The learned Attorney-General will, on Monday, seek a review of the court order which granted Mr Aludiba leave to travel out of the country,” he stated.
Mr Aludiba is among former public officials facing prosecution over alleged financial irregularities during his tenure as Chief Executive Officer of NAFCO.
The Office of the Attorney-General has charged him with offences including stealing and causing financial loss to the Republic. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges, and the case is currently before the High Court.
As part of measures to preserve assets pending the outcome of the trial, some of Mr Aludiba’s bank accounts were reportedly frozen.
His latest arrest is expected to feature prominently in the ongoing criminal proceedings, with prosecutors likely to place the alleged attempt to access the frozen account before the court. The Attorney-General’s planned application to review the travel order could also result in stricter bail and travel conditions as the trial continues.
