After threats delivered by former Attorney-General Godfred Yeboah Dame that his client, Hanan Abdul-Wahab, would refuse to comply with outrageous conditions imposed by the Attorney-General, EOCO, and BNI, and that Hanan would remain in custody until the court set him free, EOCO last night released the former Chief Executive Officer of the National Food and Buffer Stock Company Limited from its custody without any conditions.
Sources indicate that Hanan was released around 8 pm on Wednesday, 8 July 2026, without any conditions. He was not even made to sign any document, raising further serious questions about the basis for his arrest and detention for 4 days and 5 nights, even though he was already on court-granted bail granted 2 months ago.
Lawyers for Hanan had slammed his arrest as unfair and a ploy to prevent him from exercising his freedom of movement in accordance with the order of an Accra High Court permitting him to travel out of the jurisdiction.
His lawyers had dared the Attorney-General to put out the evidence of an attempt by Hanan to “empty his frozen bank account. The Attorney-General, BNI, and EOCO have, to date, failed to produce that evidence.
Lawyers for Hanan filed an application for habeas corpus seeking an order directing the Attorney-General, EOCO, and BNI to produce Hanan’s body before the court, with the hearing fixed for tomorrow, Friday, 10th July, 2026.
In a related development, the former Attorney General, Godfred Dame, has accused the Attorney General and law enforcement agencies of unlawfully arresting and detaining former National Food Buffer Stock Company (NAFCO) Chief Executive, Abdul-Wahab Hanan, warning that the case could undermine confidence in the country’s criminal justice system.
Speaking on the Asaase Breakfast Show on Thursday (9 July), Dame said Hanan’s four-day detention following his arrest at the airport violated a court order permitting him to travel.
According to Dame, Hanan was released on Wednesday evening without being asked to meet any conditions after lawyers informed authorities they would challenge the legality of his detention.
“They kept him for four days and five nights and then simply told him to go,” Dame said.
He said the circumstances of the release demonstrated that the arrest lacked legal justification.
“This arrest clearly was unfounded, baseless and unlawful,” he said.
The Attorney General has argued that Hanan attempted to access frozen bank accounts by relying on a court ruling that applied only to restrictions on landed property, and has asked the court to review an earlier order allowing him to travel.
Dame rejected those allegations, saying prosecutors had produced no evidence that his client attempted to withdraw any money.
He maintained that an accused person does not lose constitutional rights simply because criminal charges have been filed.
“An accused person standing trial does not lose his fundamental liberties guaranteed under the Constitution merely because the state has mounted a prosecution,” he said.
Dame argued that courts should apply the law consistently, regardless of political affiliation, citing previous administrations in which accused persons were permitted to travel while facing criminal charges.
“There is only one set of laws that must be applied uniformly without discrimination,” he said.
He also criticised what he described as public commentary by the Attorney General, saying repeated public allegations against Hanan risked prejudicing opinion before the substantive trial.
“If you have evidence, produce it in court,” Dame said. “Alleging that my client attempted to withdraw money without any basis is very defamatory.”
Dame said his legal team intends to pursue contempt proceedings and seek compensation for alleged breaches of Hanan’s constitutional rights.
He further warned that the outcome could have broader consequences for criminal justice if authorities are allowed to detain accused persons without sufficient evidence.
“If this can happen in such a high-profile matter which enjoys wide media coverage, then one has to think about what happens in other criminal cases where the eyes of the public are not,” he said.
Hanan is standing trial separately on allegations of financial losses to the state, charges he denies.
Dame described the prosecution as “frivolous” and expressed confidence his client would ultimately be acquitted. The Attorney General has not publicly responded to the latest comments.
