An Accra High Court has struck out an application by the Attorney-General’s Department seeking to revoke permission granted to former Chief Executive Officer of the National Food and Buffer Stock Company (NAFCO), Hanan Abdul-Wahab, to travel to London for medical treatment.
The court held that the application had become moot because the travel order, which permitted Mr Abdul-Wahab to travel between July 4 and July 12, had already expired.
Mr Abdul-Wahab was arrested at Kotoka International Airport after prosecutors alleged that he had breached aspects of his bail conditions while attempting to travel.
Following the ruling, his lead counsel and former Attorney-General, Godfred Yeboah Dame, criticised the State’s handling of the matter, alleging that its actions prevented his client from benefiting from the court’s earlier order.
Mr Dame said the State frustrated the execution of the travel order by arresting and detaining Mr Abdul-Wahab instead of allowing him to travel as authorised by the court.
He further alleged that his client was detained for four days before the Attorney-General’s Department filed the application to revoke the travel permission.
According to Mr Dame, the application was incompetent because the travel order had already expired by the time it came before the court.
He also alleged that the State caused the order to lapse by arresting Mr Abdul-Wahab, detaining him and retaining his passport, thereby preventing him from travelling within the period authorised by the court.
The High Court’s ruling means the Attorney-General’s application to revoke the medical travel permission will not proceed.
Issues relating to Mr Abdul-Wahab’s bail conditions, his request to travel for medical treatment and the continued retention of his passport and other personal belongings remain the subject of dispute between the defence and the State.
