Court orders suspension of Ex- Buffer Stock CEO’s trial pending appeal

The Court of Appeal has granted a stay of proceedings in the trial of Hanan Abdul-Wahab Aludiba, the former Chief Executive Officer of the National Food and Buffer Stock Company (NAFCO). This decision came following Hanan's request to suspend the trial until the outcome of an appeal regarding the charge sheet is known. The case involves Hanan and his wife, Faiza Seidu Wuni, facing charges including theft, fraud, financial loss to the Republic, misuse of public office, money laundering, and intentional misapplication of public funds.

During the hearing, Hanan's legal team argued that the charge sheet contained defects that could lead to a miscarriage of justice. They contended that the charge sheet included vague descriptions of alleged offenses, which made it difficult for Hanan to mount a proper defense. Specifically, they pointed out that the charge sheet grouped multiple transactions into a single count, without providing sufficient details about each transaction.

The panel, composed of Justices Noble Nkrumah, Lydia Osei Marfo, and George Boadi, agreed that these concerns warranted a stay of proceedings until the appeal was resolved. The court emphasized that the charge sheet is crucial to the trial process, and any challenges to it must be addressed before proceeding.