BNI denied us access to Abdul-Wahab - Godfred Dame alleges

Godfred Yeboah Dame, Lawyer for former Chief Executive Officer of the National Food Buffer Stock Company (NAFCO), Hanan Abdul-Wahab Aludiba, has accused the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI) of denying him access to his client following his re-arrest.

Speaking to JoyNews on July 5, 2026, Dame described the situation as a violation of his client's constitutional rights, claiming he was prevented from meeting him because it was a weekend.

Dame slams AG for unlawful arrest of Hanan at airport despite court order

"We haven't been given the opportunity to see our client at all. Indeed, we were told flatly that they don't allow lawyers to see their clients on weekends. And that's quite perplexing,” he said.

He questioned why a person arrested on a Friday or Saturday would be denied access to legal representation.

"I'm surprised that we have a person arrested, let's say on Friday night or Saturday, who will be in without access to a counsel. I mean, that is the republic in which we live now,” he expressed frustration.

Dame further argued that Abdul-Wahab was re-arrested without any lawful basis, insisting that a court had granted him permission to travel outside the country.

"He's been picked up for no reason. As far as I'm concerned, he's just been bundled off into custody for no reason whatsoever. He's been given the right to travel to the country for a few days by a court of competent jurisdiction,” he insisted.

According to him, the Deputy Attorney General was present when the court granted the travel permission and could have challenged the decision through the courts if there were any objections.

"The Deputy Attorney General himself was in court and argued, and if indeed he had any objection to the order granted, he only had to appeal. He [did not] have to resort to this surreptitious means of preventing him from traveling. I think that this is totally unwarranted and unnecessary,” he argued.

On allegations that his client attempted to access frozen funds, Dame maintained that no valid court order currently restricts Abdul-Wahab from operating his accounts.

He explained that an earlier freezing order obtained over a year ago ceased to have effect after the previous criminal case was discontinued, adding that a recent High Court ruling confirmed the position.

"There's no order of any court of competent jurisdiction preventing him from accessing his account. The only order that they had was procured over a year ago before the discontinuance of the earlier prosecution,” he explained.

"And we have a court ruling, a ruling of the High Court, Adenta, about three weeks ago to the effect that that order has lapsed. And that if the AG indeed desires to come for a fresh freezing order, he has to apply to the court. He has not done so,” he added.

Dame also denied claims that his client had withdrawn money from the account and challenged the authorities to make public any evidence supporting the allegation.

"There is no order of any court preventing him from accessing his funds. He has not accessed any funds at all. He should produce evidence to the whole Ghanaian Republic, for us to see the manner in which he claims Hanan attempted to withdraw any money from the account,” he challenged.

Dame’s concerns follow Abdul-Wahab’s arrest at the Accra International Airport on Sunday July 5, 2026, by authorities.

According to the Deputy Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Dr Justice Srem-Sai, in a social media post on July 5, 2026, law enforcement officers arrested Aludiba on Saturday night while he was preparing to travel to the United Kingdom.

Although the former NAFCO boss had been granted permission by the High Court to travel briefly to the UK, subsequent developments prompted the intervention of investigators.

According to Dr Srem-Sai, Aludiba allegedly attempted to use false means to access and withdraw funds from a frozen account held at Republic Bank.

"Law enforcement officers have, a while ago, arrested HANAN ABDUL-WAHAB ALUDIBA at the Accra International Airport.

"ALUDIBA, who is currently standing trial for stealing and causing financial loss to the Republic, was granted leave by the trial High Court to travel to the UK for a few days. It was, however, ALUDIBA's attempt to use false means to empty his frozen bank account with Republic Bank on Thursday which occasioned tonight's arrest.

"The learned Attorney-General will, on Monday, seek a review of the court order which granted ALUDIBA leave to travel out of the country," the post read.

Former NAFCO CEO arrested at airport for attempting to empty frozen account before UK trip

Aludiba is one of several former public officials currently facing prosecution over alleged financial irregularities during his tenure as CEO of the National Food Buffer Stock Company.

The Office of the Attorney General has accused him of offences including stealing and causing financial loss to the Republic, allegations he has denied before the High Court.

Rearrest of former buffer stock CEO: BNI has denied my client access and violated his constitutional rights.

- Godfred Yeboah Dame, Lawyer for Abdul-Hananhttps://t.co/GItbzdbmoJ#JoyNews | #JoyNewsPrime pic.twitter.com/AiEaw90ewL

— Joy 99.7 FM (@Joy997FM) July 5, 2026