Private legal practitioner Martin Kpebu has indicated that the criminal case involving former National Food and Buffer Stock Company (NAFCO) Chief Executive Hanan Abdul-Wahab and his wife, Faiza Seidu Wuni, is likely to broaden significantly after a series of dramatic legal developments.
Speaking on JoyNews Prime on Tuesday, May 5, Mr Kpebu linked the re-arrest of the couple by the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) to what he described as a strategic prosecutorial decision following the discovery of substantial new evidence. The couple had previously been standing trial over their alleged involvement in a GH¢78 million loss to the state.
Earlier that day, Deputy Attorney-General Justice Srem-Sai informed the High Court that the state was withdrawing all charges on the basis of “fresh evidence.” The court subsequently discharged the accused persons after the filing of a nolle prosequi, only for EOCO operatives to re-arrest them shortly thereafter.
Mr Kpebu argued that the emergence of new evidence suggests the case may involve a larger scale of alleged financial misconduct than initially understood. While describing the situation as concerning, he noted that it could also improve the prospects of asset recovery at the conclusion of the trial.
He further emphasised that the Attorney-General, Dominic Ayine, and his deputy are likely acting with full awareness of heightened public scrutiny. According to him, the decision to discontinue an ongoing trial—particularly one that had progressed for nearly a year—would not have been taken unless the newly uncovered evidence was sufficiently significant to justify restarting proceedings.
Mr Kpebu expressed confidence that the forthcoming prosecution would be more comprehensive in scope, potentially uncovering a broader network of financial irregularities. He suggested that the scale and value of the new evidence must be considerable to warrant such a procedural reset.
The re-arrest has, however, generated debate within legal circles regarding the procedural implications of discontinuing a case and immediately initiating fresh proceedings. The sequence of events indicates that the state intends to re-arraign the accused on new and possibly more serious charges.
As both the legal community and the public await the filing of a new docket, Mr Kpebu urged patience, expressing confidence that further details would emerge in the coming days.
