Ex-Buffer Stock CEO and wife were not denied legal counsel on rearrest — EOCO
The Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) has rejected claims that former Chief Executive Officer of the National Food and Buffer Stock Company, Abdul-Wahab Hanan Aludiba, and his wife, Faiza Seidu Wuni, were denied access to legal representation during their re-arrest in an ongoing corruption investigation.
The couple was re-arrested shortly after the Office of the Attorney-General discontinued charges against them on Tuesday, May 5, citing what officials described as fresh evidence.
They were later released after spending about 24 hours in EOCO custody.
The case relates to alleged irregularities in the procurement and distribution of food supplies under the national school feeding programme, with earlier estimates putting the financial exposure to the state at about GH¢78 million.
Lawyers for the couple have alleged that they were denied access to their clients during the detention process.
Speaking on Accra-based JoyNews’ Newsfile programme on Saturday, May 9, EOCO Executive Director Raymond Archer dismissed the allegations, insisting that due process was followed at every stage.
“I asked to see the lawyers for Hanan, and I was told they were gone... At the end, I was compelled to grant bail to Hanan and his wife because his lawyers were not there. All we heard was that they said we denied them access to their client," he said.
The EOCO boss stressed that the agency followed due process in handling the matter contrary to claims by the clients' lawyers.