Lawyers representing Hanan Abdul-Wahab have threatened to file contempt charges against the Attorney-General, the Deputy Attorney-General and the Head of the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI).
They accused the officials of deliberately defying a High Court directive by ordering Abdul-Wahab’s detention at Kotoka International Airport, even though the court had cleared him to travel.
The attorneys also claim Abdul-Wahab’s bank accounts were not under any freeze when the incident occurred.
In a release on Sunday, June 4, lead counsel, Godfred Yeboah Dame, called “untrue” statements made by Deputy Attorney-General, Dr. Srem Sai, in a Facebook post dated July 4, 2026, defending the arrest.
According to the legal team, Justice Achibonga of the Accra High Court, an Appeal Court judge, sitting as an additional High Court judge, approved Abdul-Wahab’s trip to the UK on June 29.
The trip was scheduled from July 4 to July 12 for an eye appointment.
The release noted the court approved the request after listening to both sides, including Dr. Srem Sai. It added that the decision followed standard judicial practice of allowing defendants on trial to travel for health and other valid purposes.
Mr Dame pointed out that other prominent figures facing prosecution — Dr. Stephen Opuni, Seidu Agongo, Alhaji Collins Dauda, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson and Dr. Kwabena Duffuor — had also received similar travel approvals.
The lawyers also dismissed claims that Abdul-Wahab tried to access money from a frozen Republic Bank account before his departure.“We dare him to present proof of any withdrawal made by our client from any account since the court’s directive,” the statement read.
Mr Dame insisted no active freeze order existed. The release explained that earlier freeze orders expired after prosecutors dropped previous charges against Abdul-Wahab on May 5, 2026, resulting in his release.
It also cited a May 20, 2026 ruling by the Adentan High Court regarding new charges filed on May 15. The court reportedly stated that Abdul-Wahab’s re-arrest started “a new process,” meaning no freeze order was still in effect.
Mr Dame said this legal stance was already sent to EOCO’s Executive Director in a letter about two weeks earlier.
The legal team accused the Attorney-General’s Office of feeding the public false information and improperly using the BNI to detain Abdul-Wahab on claims they say lack proof.
Calling the airport detention a “clear and intentional breach” of a High Court ruling, Dame said contempt proceedings will be launched against the Attorney-General, his deputy and the BNI Director.
