By Ashiadey Dotse
Private legal practitioner Austin Brako-Powers has urged the public to avoid politicising the re-arrest of former Buffer Stock Company Chief Executive, Hanan Abdul-Wahab, by the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO), saying the matter should be treated strictly as a legal process.
Speaking in an interview on Current Agenda on GTV on Saturday, May 9, 2026, Mr. Brako-Powers said attempts to frame the development along partisan lines risk undermining the rule of law and public understanding of the case.
He stressed that the state has a constitutional duty to investigate and prosecute alleged wrongdoing, especially involving public officials, and that such actions should not be viewed through a political lens.
His comment came on the back of The Deputy Attorney-General’s Justice Srem-Sai’s decision to withdrawn charges against former Chief Executive Officer of the National Food and Buffer Stock Company Limited, Hanan Abdul-Wahab Aludiba, and his wife, Faiza Seidu Wuni, leading to their discharge by the court after they had pleaded not guilty to allegations linked to the purchase and supply of foodstuffs under the national school feeding programme; however, shortly after the court struck out the case on Tuesday, May 5, 2026, following the state’s decision to discontinue proceedings, the couple was re-arrested under unclear circumstances, with details of the fresh development yet to be made public.
According to him, the decision to re-arrest a suspect does not imply guilt or innocence, but may indicate that investigators are expanding the scope of their case or reviewing new evidence.
“Drawing charges against an accused person does not mean the person is guilty, and it also does not remove the presumption of innocence,” he explained.
Mr. Brako-Powers added that re-arresting a suspect can be lawful, particularly if it is linked to ongoing investigations or connected to earlier charges. He noted that the number of charges in a case can change as new facts emerge.
He also cautioned against making claims of rights violations without clear evidence, stating that such assertions must be backed by verifiable facts, including details about how the arrest was carried out and whether due process was followed.
The legal practitioner further called for a more informed public conversation, urging commentators to focus on the facts rather than speculation or political narratives.
He emphasised that accountability for former public officials is a responsibility of the state and should not be misinterpreted as political persecution unless proven otherwise.
Mr. Brako-Powers concluded by reiterating that serious legal matters such as the EOCO investigation must be handled with objectivity and respect for due process, rather than being “colourised” with partisan politics.
