Former Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Mr Godfred Yeboah Dame, counsel for former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the National Food and Buffer Stock Company (NAFCO), Alhaji Abdul-Wahab Hanan Aludiba, has filed a motion seeking the release of his client’s personal belongings, including mobile phones, being held by the State.

Mr Dame argued that access to the items was necessary for Mr Aludiba to adequately prepare his defence in the case in which he is accused of causing GH¢78 million financial loss to the State.

According to the counsel, the continued withholding of the items could impair the accused person’s constitutional right to a fair trial under Article 19(2) (e) of the 1992 Constitution.

The prosecution was ready to commence the trial yesterday, with its first witness expected to mount the witness box, but the Presiding Judge, Justice Francis Achibonga, adjourned the case to October 7, 2026, at 11 a.m. for Mr Dame to move the application.

Mr Aludiba is standing trial alongside his wife, Faiza Wuni, and three others on charges including conspiracy to commit crime, stealing and causing financial loss to the state.

The case took a new turn on May 5, 2026, when the Attorney-General’s (A-G’s) Office withdrew the criminal charges against Mr Aludiba, his wife and three others following the emergence of fresh evidence.

However, the accused persons were re-arrested by the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) shortly after leaving the courtroom.

They were subsequently charged with 24 counts, including stealing, defrauding by false pretences, money laundering and intentional dissipation of public funds. They have pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The accused persons and companies linked to them are alleged to have caused financial loss of about GH¢78 million to the state.

Mr Aludiba and his wife were granted bail totalling GH¢150 million and placed on the Ghana Immigration Service stop list.

Mr Aludiba’s bail was set at GH¢100 million with six sureties, four of whom were required to justify their solvency with landed property, while his wife was granted GH¢50 million bail with four sureties, two of whom were required to justify.