By Collins Sarkodieh 
The legal battle involving the former Chief Executive Officer of the National Food Buffer Stock Company has taken a highly dramatic turn at the Accra High Court. State prosecutors have officially withdrawn their application which was trying to stop Hanan Abdul-Wahab from traveling to London for medical treatment.
This unexpected courtroom outcome has effectively brought an end to days of intense arguments between state attorneys and the defense team. The decision by the court to strike out the motion clears the air regarding the current travel status of the former public official.
High Court Discovers the Travel Order Expired Long Ago
The criminal case took a highly interesting turn when the presiding judge made an important logical observation during the hearing. The state filed an application on July 8, 2026, to cancel a travel permission that the court originally granted to Abdul-Wahab back on June 29.
However, the judge pointed out that the original travel window was self-regulating and had completely expired on July 12, 2026. Because that specific return date had already passed, the court held that there was no active legal order existing on paper for the state to cancel or revoke anymore.
The Deputy Attorney General and Minister for Justice, Dr Justice Srem-Sai, moved the motion by relying heavily on the affidavit papers filed by the Republic. But after listening to the clear explanation from the bench, the state prosecutor logically agreed with the position of the judge.
Dr Srem-Sai formally prayed for leave to withdraw the state application since the parameters of the original travel passport permission had naturally lapsed. The defense team, led by former Attorney General Godfred Yeboah Dame, did not oppose the withdrawal but strongly criticized the timing of the state actions.
The defense lawyer argued fiercely that the main goal of the state was to intentionally frustrate his client and prevent him from getting medical care abroad. Dame claimed that by scheduling the case after the travel timeline had expired, the state successfully blocked the implementation of the original court directives.
The defense attorney further alleged that authorities are still disobeying the court by holding onto Abdul-Wahab’s passport and other seized personal properties. He stated that keeping the passport inside state custody effectively made it impossible for the former Buffer Stock boss to board any flight to the United Kingdom.
Dr Justice Srem-Sai swiftly rejected the heavy allegations from the defense team, explaining that the court registry sets all hearing dates, not individual political parties. Regarding the controversial passport issue, the Deputy Attorney General revealed that the state actually asked the accused person to come for his document.
According to the prosecution, the suspect was told to report to the case officers on the Monday following his initial arrest to collect his passport but he simply failed to show up. With both legal sides stating their positions, the High Court finally allowed the state to drop the matter, leaving the general public to see how the main trial unfolds.
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