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Former Chief Executive Officer of the National Food and Buffer Stock Company (NAFCO), Abdul-Wahab Hanan, has filed a motion at the High Court seeking to overturn a freezing order placed on four properties associated with him, arguing that the directive was obtained unlawfully and without proper basis.
The order, issued on October 21, 2025, was secured by the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) as part of ongoing investigations into alleged financial improprieties. But Hanan insists the anti-graft agency acted “in error of law” and targeted assets he either acquired long before assuming office or does not own at all.
In his affidavit, Hanan identified the affected properties as:
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- A three-bedroom house at Kpalsi, Tamale (GPS NS-056-9690)
- An uncompleted storey building at Gumani, near Baobab Guest House (GPS NR-151-7759)
- A 0.27-acre plot at Estate Junction, Dagomba Street (GPS NS-320-6111)
- A 0.29-acre plot at Workers College, Tamale (GPS NR-000-8199)
He maintains that EOCO secured the freezing order ex parte, in violation of his constitutional right to be heard, and without establishing the legal thresholds required under sections 33–35 of the Economic and Organised Crime Act, 2010 (Act 804).
The former NAFCO boss argues that at least one of the properties—the three-bedroom house at Kpalsi—was improperly frozen because it has no connection to his tenure or income as CEO.
According to him, the property was acquired in 2011 and completed in 2013, years before he joined NAFCO. He stated that the residence even hosted part of his Islamic marriage ceremony, underscoring its longstanding personal use and disconnect from any alleged wrongdoing.
He therefore contends that the house cannot be classified as “tainted property” under the law.
Hanan further argues that EOCO misrepresented the ownership of two additional properties:
- The uncompleted storey building at Gumani, which he says he has no interest in
- The 0.27-acre plot at Estate Junction, which he says belongs to Al-Qarni Enterprise
He added that this particular land parcel was transferred in 2022 to OSGAF Furniture Enterprise, long before EOCO commenced investigations. He insists these assets were frozen without any legal or factual basis.
Hanan accuses EOCO of violating multiple constitutional rights during its investigation.
He claims that after his arrest on June 25, 2025, he was detained for two weeks and subjected to searches at his residences in Accra and Tamale without a warrant—an act he says breached his right to privacy.
He also says he was not informed of the freezing order until November 26, 2025, when he reported to EOCO as part of his bail conditions. This, he says, contradicts the legal requirement for prompt notification under Act 804.
Hanan further argues that EOCO has presented no evidence demonstrating that the properties are tainted, linked to financial misconduct, or acquired through illicit means.
The High Court is expected to hear Hanan’s application challenging the freezing order on December 18, 2025.
The court’s decision will determine whether EOCO’s actions were justified under the law or whether the former NAFCO CEO’s rights were violated in the process.
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