Hanan granted bail as AG moves to block UK medical trip over frozen funds
The Attorney-General has asked the High Court to revoke its earlier decision allowing the first accused in the Buffer Stock case, Hanan Abdul-Wahab Aludiba, to travel to the United Kingdom for specialised medical treatment, citing new developments relating to an alleged attempt to access frozen bank accounts.
The application follows Mr Aludiba’s recent arrest and subsequent bail by the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO).
According to a case update shared by Operation Recover All Loot (ORAL) on Facebook, the Attorney-General is seeking to overturn the court’s June 29 ruling on the grounds that new evidence has emerged which significantly alters the circumstances under which the travel permission was granted.
The update stated that an affidavit supporting the application alleges Mr Aludiba attempted to use an order issued by a differently constituted High Court in a separate matter to gain access to funds held in bank accounts that remain under valid freezing orders obtained by EOCO.
The prosecution contends that the alleged action contravenes Section 37 of the Economic and Organised Crime Office Act, 2010 (Act 804), which prohibits any transactions involving assets or funds subject to a freezing order.
According to the statement, the bank involved rejected the attempted transaction and notified the relevant investigative authorities.
The Attorney-General’s Office further argued that the alleged incident occurred shortly before Mr Aludiba was scheduled to travel to the UK, raising concerns about his compliance with existing court orders, the integrity of the ongoing trial, and the possibility that he may fail to return to face prosecution if permitted to leave the country.
The statement added that these new facts were not available to the court when it granted the travel request and could materially affect its decision to permit Mr Aludiba to travel.
It also noted that the Attorney-General acted promptly in bringing the new information before the court and is asking it to review the travel order in the interest of justice.
The Office emphasised that the application is a lawful procedural step available under Ghanaian law when significant new circumstances arise after a court ruling and should not be interpreted as a determination of the substantive case.
It further stressed that Mr Aludiba remains presumed innocent until proven guilty by a court of competent jurisdiction.
Mr Aludiba and another accused person are currently standing trial in the Buffer Stock case over alleged financial-related offences.
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