Attorney-General appeals ruling staying Hanan Abdul-Wahab trial

The Attorney-General has filed an appeal at the Supreme Court against a decision by the Court of Appeal to stay the criminal proceedings of Hanan Abdul-Wahab, the former CEO of the National Food and Buffer Stock Company (NAFCo), and his wife, Faiza Seidu Wuni. The Republic is seeking to quash the lower court's ruling, which halted the High Court trial on October 19, 2026, following arguments from the defense regarding alleged defects in the charge sheet.

The Court of Appeal had previously upheld an application from Abdul-Wahab, ruling that "exceptional circumstances" existed that necessitated a suspension of the case. The defense had argued that the significance of a charge sheet in criminal proceedings meant the trial could not fairly proceed until technical issues were addressed. However, the Attorney-General contends that this interpretation was erroneous and is requesting that the Supreme Court set aside the ruling to allow the trial to resume in the High Court.

Deputy Attorney-General Dr. Justice Srem-Sai has cautioned that allowing the suspension of criminal trials over charge sheet complaints could set a dangerous precedent. He warned that such a practice would encourage accused individuals to delay court proceedings by challenging charges on technical grounds, potentially undermining national prosecution efforts. Dr. Srem-Sai emphasized that mere complaints about a charge sheet should not automatically pause a trial, as the state aims to ensure swift justice.

The Supreme Court is expected to evaluate the state's challenge to the suspension order in the coming weeks. The case remains a significant point of legal debate regarding the balance between the rights of the accused to a perfect charge sheet and the state's interest in the timely delivery of justice.