Former Chief Executive of the National Food and Buffer Stock Company (NAFCO), Abdul-Wahab Hanan, has petitioned the High Court to reverse a freezing order placed on four properties allegedly linked to him.
He argues that the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) acted unlawfully and included assets he either acquired before assuming office or does not own at all.
In his affidavit, Hanan outlined the properties affected by the October 21, 2025 order:
- A three-bedroom house, GPS NS-056-9690, Kpalsi, Tamale
- An uncompleted storey building, GPS NR-151-7759, Gumani, near Baobab Guest House, Tamale
- A 0.27-acre plot, GPS NS-320-6111, Estate Junction, Dagomba Street, Tamale
- A 0.29-acre plot, GPS NR-000-8199, Workers College, Tamale
Hanan insists EOCO secured the freezing order ex parte—denying him the constitutional right to be heard—and failed to satisfy the statutory conditions under sections 33–35 of the Economic and Organised Crime Act, 2010 (Act 804).
Properties Acquired Before His Appointment
The former CEO contends that EOCO unreasonably froze assets unrelated to his time at NAFCO. He says the three-bedroom house at Kpalsi was bought in 2011 and completed in 2013—long before he joined the organisation. He added that the house hosted part of his Islamic marriage rites, arguing that it cannot be classed as “tainted property.”
Properties He Claims Are Not His
Hanan further states that EOCO wrongly attributed two properties to him:
- The uncompleted building at Gumani, which he says he has no interest in
- The 0.27-acre plot at Estate Junction, which he says is owned by Al-Qarni Enterprise
He explained that the land was transferred to OSGAF Furniture Enterprise in 2022, well before EOCO’s investigation began. He argues that these freezes were issued without “any legal or factual justification.”
Alleged Breaches of Procedure and Rights
Hanan also accuses EOCO of procedural violations, stating that after his arrest on June 25, 2025, the office detained him for two weeks and conducted warrantless searches of his homes in Accra and Tamale, infringing on his right to privacy.
He further claims he was only informed of the freezing order on November 26, 2025—while reporting under bail conditions—despite legal requirements for immediate notification.
Hanan maintains that EOCO has not demonstrated that the properties are tainted, connected to serious offences, or acquired through criminal proceeds. He says the order violates his constitutional rights to property, privacy, a fair hearing, and the presumption of innocence.
The High Court is expected to hear his application to review the freezing order on December 18, 2025.
