Accra High court halts Buffer Stock trial pending Supreme Court ruling on vacation sittings

The Accra High Court has temporarily halted the criminal trial involving former National Food Buffer Stock Company (NAFCO) Chief Executive Officer, Hanan Abdul-Wahab, and his wife, Faiza Seidu Wuni, while awaiting a decision from the Supreme Court on an injunction application. The trial suspension was ordered by Justice Francis Apangabuno Achibonga, who will oversee the case until August 25, 2026.

This decision follows a legal challenge brought by defense attorneys against the Chief Justice's directive permitting certain criminal trials to continue during the judiciary's legal vacation. The defense argued that the directive deviates from customary court practices and conflicts with the Constitution, asserting that High Court judges during the vacation should only adjudicate motions and interlocutory matters, not substantive criminal trials.

Hanan Abdul-Wahab's defense lawyer, Godfred Yeboah Dame, described the directive as "irregular and unlawful." The defense has now filed an injunction application at the Supreme Court, intending to prevent the specialized High Courts from proceeding with criminal proceedings during the vacation. The Supreme Court is expected to rule on August 20, 2026, on the injunction application.

The outcome of this Supreme Court decision will impact not only Hanan Abdul-Wahab's trial but also other high-profile cases scheduled for the vacation, including Kwabena Adu-Boahene's trial. Justice Achibonga dismissed the defense's request for further adjournment, arguing that delaying the case until October would undermine the purpose of him being appointed as a vacation judge.

However, he emphasized that an injunction application pending before a higher court should halt proceedings until the application is resolved. Hanan Abdul-Wahab and his wife are accused of 20 counts, including financial losses to the state in connection with NAFCO and the School Feeding Programme. They maintain their not guilty pleas and are currently on bail.

The charges allege that Abdul-Wahab orchestrated a scheme to divert over GH¢78 million in public funds for personal gain. The Supreme Court is set to hear the injunction application on August 20, 2026, and will then reconvene on August 25 to consider the ruling and determine the trial's next steps.