The Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) has returned £6,700, GH¢2,750, two laptops and at least six mobile phones seized from former Ghana Buffer Stock Company CEO Hanan Abdul Wahab Hanan, his wife, Hajia Faiza Wuni, and their driver.
The three are standing trial in a financial crimes case involving allegations of offences against the state.
Some of the items were seized during investigations in 2025, while the cash, one laptop and two mobile phones were confiscated on July 4, 2026, when Mr Hanan was arrested at the airport and detained for four days.
Mr Hanan had been due to travel abroad for medical treatment under a court order.
Court blocks prosecution from starting trial
At the latest hearing on September 29, 2026, the prosecution indicated that it was ready to call its first witness.
However, lead counsel for Mr Hanan, former Attorney-General and Minister for Justice Godfred Yeboah Dame, argued that the prosecution should not be allowed to commence its case until EOCO returned the seized items.
Mr Dame told the court that the mobile phones contained information critical to the defence’s preparation and had filed an application seeking an order compelling EOCO to release them.
“The phones contain information necessary for the conduct of the trial and related to matters that are central to the subject matter of the proceedings,” he said.
He argued that access to the devices was necessary for Mr Hanan to adequately prepare his defence, including challenging documents the prosecution may seek to tender in evidence.
Counsel for the second accused, Faizal Wuni, Augustine Obour, also told the court that his client had requested the return of her electronic devices, which he said were relevant to her defence.
The prosecution argued that the trial could proceed while the court considered the defence application.
Justice Francis Achibonga, who presided over the trial, however, ruled that the prosecution could not call its first witness until the application concerning the release of the phones and other seized property had been determined.
The court noted that counsel for Mr Hanan might require access to the devices to adequately prepare his defence.
Following the proceedings, EOCO released the items to the accused persons on Monday, October 5, 2026.
Lawyers petition EOCO over seized property
The return of the items followed a petition by Mr Hanan’s lawyers, Messrs Dame & Partners, to EOCO Executive Director Raymond Archer and the Attorney-General, Dr Dominic Ayine.
The lawyers demanded the return of what they described as their client’s personal property, arguing that the items had been retained without legal justification.
According to the petition, when Mr Hanan reported to EOCO on July 9, 2026, to collect his belongings, he was given an empty purse, a wristwatch and his boarding pass.
The lawyers said investigating officer Frank Cromwell informed him that he did not have authorisation to release the remaining property.
The items allegedly withheld included two mobile phones and three envelopes containing £5,000, £1,700 and GH¢2,750.
The defence maintained that the cash belonged to Mr Hanan and had been borrowed specifically to cover his travel and medical expenses.
Defence alleges breach of privacy
Mr Hanan’s lawyers also accused EOCO officials of violating his constitutional right to privacy.
They alleged that data on the two seized mobile phones was accessed without judicial authorisation on July 6 and July 7, 2026, while Mr Hanan was in state custody.
The lawyers further challenged EOCO’s continued retention of his passport, arguing that it was contrary to a High Court order dated June 29, 2026.
According to the defence, the court had released the passport to enable Mr Hanan to travel abroad for medical treatment and directed that it be returned to the Registrar of the High Court upon his return.
The lawyers demanded a full account of the data allegedly accessed from the phones and warned that further legal action could follow if the seized property was not returned.
Prosecution case faces further challenges
The latest development comes amid several changes and legal challenges in the prosecution of Mr Hanan.
In May 2026, the prosecution withdrew its initial charges against him before subsequently re-arraigning him on new charges.
The prosecution also withdrew a significant portion of evidence previously presented before the court.
The new charges were subsequently challenged by Mr Dame, who argued that aspects of the charge sheet were defective. The prosecution later made further amendments.
With the seized property now returned, the prosecution is expected to proceed with presenting its case as the court continues to hear the financial crimes proceedings.
