Ex-NAFCO CEO trial: A-G heads to Supreme Court over suspension of Hanan Aludiba’s case

The Attorney-General has filed an appeal at the Supreme Court to overturn a Court of Appeal decision granting a stay of proceedings in the criminal trial involving former National Food Buffer Stock Company (NAFCO) Chief Executive Officer Hanan Abdul-Wahab Aludiba and his wife, Faiza Seidu Wuni.

In the notice of appeal, the prosecution is challenging the October 19, 2026 ruling, arguing that the Court of Appeal erred in holding that a challenge to a charge sheet constitutes an exceptional ground for staying a criminal trial.

The appeal, filed by Deputy Attorney-General Dr. Justice Srem-Sai, asks the Supreme Court to set aside the ruling and order that the criminal proceedings resume.

The Deputy AG argued that the prosecution may file additional grounds of appeal after receiving the certified copy of the ruling. He is asking the apex court to determine whether the Court of Appeal was justified in granting the stay of proceedings pending an appeal. The outcome will determine whether the criminal trial can proceed while the legal challenge is pursued.

Background

On October 19, 2026, the Court of Appeal granted an application by lawyers for the former NAFCO CEO, Hanan Abdul-Wahab Aludiba, seeking to halt the trial pending the determination of an appeal against a High Court ruling.

In July, the High Court dismissed Hanan's application to drop the charges against him over a purportedly defective charge sheet, holding that the document contained reasonable information for the defense. However, the court ordered the prosecution to amend the specific charges raised by the defense.

Lawyers for the former NAFCO CEO, led by Godfred Yeboah Dame, challenged the ruling and filed an application to stay proceedings pending the determination of the appeal.

Deputy Attorney-General Dr. Justice Srem-Sai, leading the state, opposed the application, arguing that no exceptional circumstances warranted the request.

A three-member panel of justices at the Court of Appeal ruled on Monday that exceptional circumstances had been established to justify halting the High Court trial.

Justice Noble Nkrumah, presiding over the case, indicated that because the charge sheet forms the foundational framework the prosecution will rely on, any contentions surrounding it ought to be resolved before proceeding.

The granting of the defense's request means the trial at the High Court will remain on hold while the appellate court determines the substantive appeal.