Re-arrest of former NAFCO boss at airport sparks legal battle over court travel order

A legal dispute has erupted following the arrest of former National Food and Buffer Stock Company (NAFCO) CEO Abdul-Wahab Hanan Aludiba at Accra International Airport. Aludiba was apprehended Saturday night allegedly for attempting to use fraudulent means to access his frozen Republic Bank account before departing for the United Kingdom.

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The Attorney-General would today apply to the High Court, Accra, to review the order that permitted Mr Aludiba to travel.

The Attorney-General's Office, represented by Deputy Attorney-General Dr. Justice Srem-Sai, announced it would apply to the High Court to review the travel order that permitted Aludiba's journey. Aludiba faces 24 charges, including conspiracy, stealing, fraud, money laundering, and causing financial loss to the state, related to alleged transfers of GH¢69.6 million to Sawtina Enterprise, resulting in a GH¢50.9 million loss to the state.

However, Aludiba's legal team, led by former Attorney-General Godfred Yeboah Dame, has denounced the arrest as unlawful. They argue that no valid court order freezing his accounts was in effect, as previous freezing orders lapsed when the initial charges were withdrawn. The defense plans to file contempt proceedings against the Attorney-General, his deputy, and the Director of the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI).

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The High Court, presided over by Justice Achibonga, had on June 29, 2026, granted Mr Aludiba permission to travel to the UK from July 4 to July 12 to attend a medical appointment after hearing submissions from both the prosecution and the defence.

The High Court had previously granted Aludiba permission to travel to the UK from July 4 to July 12 for a medical appointment. While the Attorney-General's office maintains the arrest was justified by Aludiba's alleged actions before departure, the defense insists it violates a subsisting court order. Both the Attorney-General's application to review the travel order and the defense's contempt application are expected to be heard by the High Court.

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the earlier freezing orders lapsed when the Attorney-General withdrew the original charges on May 5, 2026, and were not revived after fresh charges were subsequently filed.