The High Court has adjourned the trial of former Chief Executive Officer of the National Food and Buffer Stock Company Ltd, Hanan Abdul-Wahab Aludiba and his wife, Faiza Seidu Wuni, to October 7, 2026.
This comes after lawyers for the accused persons raised concerns over seized properties they say are needed for the preparation of their defence.
The case was scheduled for the commencement of the prosecution’s examination-in-chief of its first prosecution witness.
However, in court on Tuesday, September 29, lead counsel for the first accused, Godfred Yeboah Dame, moved an application seeking an order directing the prosecution to release properties belonging to Hanan, including mobile phones seized from him.
According to Godfred Dame, some of the phones were seized last year, while others were taken from Hanan following his arrest at the airport.
He argued that the phones contain information relevant to the proceedings and are necessary for the first accused to adequately prepare his defence.
Mr Dame relied on the constitutional right of an accused person under Article 19(2)(e) and (g), which provides, among other things, for adequate time and facilities for the preparation of a defence.
Counsel for the second accused, Augustines Obour, also indicated that his client had requested the release of her gadgets, saying they would assist the defence in raising objections.
The prosecution, led by Principal State Attorney Esi Dentaa Yankah, however, opposed the immediate determination of the application, arguing that the day’s proceedings were scheduled for the commencement of the examination-in-chief of the prosecution’s first witness.
She told the court that the proceedings would be recorded as the court is a court of record, allowing defence counsel to review the evidence and raise any issues at the appropriate stage.
Esi Yankah further argued that the prosecution had filed its witness statement on June 3, 2026, and a supplementary witness statement on June 11, 2026.
She therefore maintained that there was nothing new in the witness statements that should prevent the prosecution from commencing its case.
The court, presided over by Justice Francis Achibonga, however, held that the application concerning the seized properties had to be determined before the trial could proceed.
The court noted that the first accused’s counsel may require the mobile phones allegedly seized by the State to adequately prepare the defence.
The court further observed that adequate preparation for the defence includes the accused person’s ability to object to evidence the prosecution intends to present.
The court consequently adjourned the matter to October 7, 2026, at 11am for continuation.
The court indicated that the trial would commence after it had determined the application seeking the release of the phones and other properties belonging to the first accused.
By Laud Adu-Asare
