Former Attorney-General and counsel for former National Food Buffer Stock Company (NAFCO) Chief Executive Officer Hanan Abdul-Wahab, Godfred Yeboah Dame, has dismissed allegations that his client attempted to withdraw money from a frozen bank account, insisting that no valid freezing order was in force at the time of the arrest.

Speaking on Channel One Newsroom on Sunday, 5 July, Dame challenged the basis given by the Attorney-General’s Office for Abdul-Wahab’s arrest at the Kotoka International Airport.

Deputy Attorney-General Dr Justice Srem-Sai had earlier stated that the arrest followed an alleged attempt by Abdul-Wahab to gain access to funds in a frozen Republic Bank account using false pretences.

Dame argued that this position was legally incorrect, maintaining that any previous freezing order had expired after the initial charges against Abdul-Wahab were withdrawn.

He explained that when the earlier case was discontinued and subsequently replaced with fresh charges, all orders attached to the previous proceedings, including bail terms and account restrictions, automatically lapsed. He added that the state would have been required to obtain a new court order to impose any fresh freeze on the account.

Dame further questioned why the Attorney-General had not applied for a new freezing order if it considered one necessary, instead alleging a breach of his client’s rights.

He also criticised Abdul-Wahab’s arrest despite a High Court ruling permitting him to travel to the United Kingdom for medical reasons, describing the incident as an unusual restriction on a defendant who had received judicial approval to travel.

According to Dame, during his time as Attorney-General, individuals such as Dr Stephen Opuni, Seidu Agongo, Dr Kwabena Duffuor, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson and Collins Dauda were allowed to travel abroad under court-authorised conditions and were not subjected to airport arrests.

He further alleged that after Abdul-Wahab’s arrest, he and the former NAFCO boss’s wife were denied access to him, saying they were told that officials do not operate on weekends despite the arrest taking place during that period.

The remarks form part of an ongoing disagreement between Abdul-Wahab’s legal representatives and the Attorney-General’s Office following his arrest on 4 July, despite a High Court order granting him permission to travel to the United Kingdom for medical attention.

Dame and his team have indicated plans to pursue contempt proceedings against the Attorney-General, the Deputy Attorney-General and the Director of the Bureau of National Investigations, alleging that the arrest breached a valid court order.