Godfred Yeboah Dame, former Attorney-General and lawyer for ex-National Food Buffer Stock Company CEO, Hanan Abdul-Wahab, has stated that his client prefers to stay in detention if the Attorney-General’s Office, EOCO and the BNI refuse to set him free.
In a statement released on Wednesday, July 8, Dame described Abdul-Wahab’s arrest and ongoing detention as illegal and a misuse of state power. According to the lawyer, his client no longer trusts the Attorney-General, EOCO and the BNI. He has therefore decided to remain in custody until the judiciary makes a determination.
“If the Attorney-General, EOCO and BNI will not release our client despite the baseless charges, he is determined to stay in detention until the courts, the only body he trusts, protect his basic rights,” the statement read.
Dame also dismissed a statement from the Attorney-General’s Office issued on July 7, calling it misleading and an effort to defend what he termed the unlawful apprehension of Abdul-Wahab at Kotoka International Airport (KIA) on July 4.
He insisted that contrary to the Attorney-General’s claim, no request had been made to overturn the High Court ruling that allowed Abdul-Wahab to travel before the arrest.
Dame said a check at the court registry showed the application was only submitted on Wednesday, July 8, around 1:30 p.m. The legal team also refuted claims that Abdul-Wahab tried to pull money from a frozen account. They argued there was no active court order freezing his accounts when he was arrested.
“Our client did not make any illegal attempt to clear any frozen account,” the statement said, adding that neither EOCO nor the BNI had provided proof to back the claim.
Dame challenged the Attorney-General to present evidence, such as a cheque, withdrawal form, or any record, showing that his client tried to access funds before arriving at the airport.
The statement further stated that previous orders freezing Abdul-Wahab’s accounts expired after the Attorney-General dropped the initial charges and filed new ones.
Dame also condemned new bail terms set by EOCO, calling the GH¢5 million bail with two justified sureties excessive and unfair. He pointed out that Abdul-Wahab was already on court bail and had been reporting to EOCO every two weeks.
The lawyer said the new conditions appeared aimed at keeping his client behind bars because he could not meet them. This latest development deepens the standoff between Abdul-Wahab’s lawyers and the Attorney-General’s Office after his arrest despite a High Court permit to travel to the UK for medical treatment.
The Attorney-General maintains the arrest was connected to an alleged attempt to fraudulently access bank funds, an allegation Dame continues to deny.
