Ex-NAFCO Boss Arrested at Kotoka Saturday Night as A-G Moves to Block UK Trip

Ex-NAFCO Boss Arrested at Kotoka Saturday Night as A-G Moves to Block UK Trip

The legal troubles of former National Food Buffer Stock Company (NAFCO) Chief Executive Officer, Hanan Abdul-Wahab Aludiba, took another dramatic turn Saturday night when law enforcement officers arrested him at the  Airport as he prepared to board a flight to the United Kingdom.

The arrest came just days after the High Court granted him permission to travel abroad while standing trial on multiple criminal charges.

The charges include !alleged stealing, defrauding by false pretences, causing financial loss to the Republic, money laundering, using public office for profit, dishonestly receiving and intentional misapplication of public funds.

According to Deputy Attorney-General Dr. Justice Srem-Sai, the arrest followed an alleged attempt by Mr. Aludiba to use false means on Thursday to access funds in a frozen Republic Bank account.

The Attorney-General is expected to appear before the High Court on Monday to seek a review of the order that granted the former NAFCO boss leave to travel outside the country.

Fresh Charges

Mr. Aludiba and his wife, Faiza Seidu Wuni, were recently re-arraigned before the High Court after the Attorney-General withdrew an earlier 24-count charge sheet and filed fresh charges.

The new charge sheet names only the couple as accused persons, while former NAFCO Head of Finance, Richard Sam-Asante, is expected to testify as a prosecution witness.

Both have pleaded not guilty to all the charges.

Justice Francis Apangabuno Achibonga admitted Mr. Aludiba to bail in the sum of GH¢60 million with two justified sureties, while his wife was granted GH¢3.5 million bail under similar conditions.

The court also ordered both accused persons to deposit their passports with the court registry, placed them on stop lists and directed them to report to the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) every two weeks.

Prosecution's Allegations

The prosecution alleges that during his tenure as NAFCO CEO from 2017 to 2025, Mr. Aludiba orchestrated a scheme that diverted millions of cedis intended for Ghana's strategic food reserve and the Free SHS feeding programme.

Among the allegations are claims that he obtained GH¢734,400 in rent payments for a property he allegedly did not occupy, authorised millions of cedis in payments to companies linked to himself and his associates for goods allegedly never supplied.

He is also accused of  channelling  large sums through businesses connected to himself and his wife for the acquisition of properties and investments.

Prosecutors further allege that more than GH¢50 million was transferred from payments made to Sawtina Enterprise back to Mr. Aludiba, his businesses and businesses linked to his wife.

The prosecution maintains that the transactions constituted a large-scale diversion of public funds.

The accused persons deny all the allegations.

With Saturday night's arrest adding a dramatic twist to the already high-profile case, all eyes will be on Monday's court proceedings when the Attorney-General seeks to overturn the order allowing Mr. Aludiba to travel abroad.